HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Catering

Julian Huppert: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what proportion of the  (a) tea and  (b) coffee provided through House of Commons catering outlets was from fair trade sources in the latest period for which figures are available; and what steps the Commission is taking to increase the proportion provided which is from such sources.

John Thurso: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) All tea provided through the House of Commons catering outlets comes from sources classified as 'ethical'. Of the four brands sold, one is certified as 'Fairtrade' while the other three are certified under the Ethical Tea Partnership,
	 (b) All fresh coffee provided through the House of Commons catering outlets is certified as Fairtrade. A small quantity of instant coffee not certified as 'fair trade' is sold in areas where either space restrictions or volumes are insufficient to warrant equipment for fresh-brew coffee. This accounts for less 0.1% of all coffee purchases. Given that over 99.9% of coffee purchases are from accredited fair trade sources, the Catering and Retail Service is not actively seeking to increase the proportion.

Catering: Private Sector

Greg Knight: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what assessment the House of Commons Commission has made of allowing private operators to provide catering services in the precincts of the House.

John Thurso: The Commission has agreed, on the advice of the Finance and Services Committee, that the option of competitive tendering should be explored as part of the savings programme. That decision covers catering as well as other services. It will involve determining whether services should be outsourced or retained in house. The work of examining that option will begin early in 2011.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Electoral Register: Literacy

John Mann: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what assessment the Electoral Commission has made of the effects of standards of literacy on implementation of individual voter registration.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that in 2009 it commissioned Ipsos MORI to conduct research on the collection of personal identifiers and the introduction of individual electoral registration. The research, which included people with a low level of literacy in the sample, found that participants experienced few difficulties in completing the forms. The findings of this research are available on the Commission's website.
	The Commission further informs me that its plans for reviewing the move to individual electoral registration are being developed and will include an assessment of the challenges faced by different groups when registering to vote. It is intended that those who have a low level of literacy will form part of this work.

General Election 2010

Gregory Campbell: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what the reason is for the time taken for the Electoral Commission to publish details relating to each candidate who contested the general election on 6 May 2010.

Gary Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that although it has no statutory duty to publish details contained in candidate returns, in the interest of transparency the Commission published details of all the returns received from returning officers on 10 December 2010.
	The Commission has published spending reports for 4,028 out of the 4,150 candidates who stood at the UK general election.
	Candidates' agents are responsible for submitting their spending reports to the returning officer, and returning officers are responsible for making those reports available locally. Returning officers are also required to forward a copy of the reports to the Electoral Commission as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt.
	While the Commission received the majority of returns from returning officers within a reasonable time after receipt, a considerable number required follow-up before a sufficiently comprehensive set of returns could be published. Publication of similar information after the UK general election in 2005 took place in March 2006.

INDEPENDENT PARLIAMENTARY STANDARDS AUTHORITY COMMITTEE

Personnel

Bob Russell: To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, pursuant to the answer of 9 December 2010, what the appropriate steps were which the Interim Chief Executive took to investigate allegations of improper behaviour by staff at the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority made in the House on 2 December; and what the position is of each member of staff investigated for evidence to support the allegations.

Charles Walker: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. I have asked IPSA to reply.
	 Letter from Andrew McDonald:
	As Interim Chief Executive of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what steps I took to investigate allegations of improper behaviour by staff at the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority made in the House on 2 December; and what the position is of each member of staff investigated for evidence to support the allegations.
	Following the claims made in the House on 2 December, I met the individual named to discuss the matter. I have not seen any evidence to support the allegations made. Hence, I fully endorse the statement made by IPSA's Chairman on 2 December refuting the allegations.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Conferences

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his Department's annual budget for conferences was at  (a) 7 May 2010 and  (b) 7 December 2010.

Hugo Swire: The Department did not have an annual budget for conferences at either 7 May 2010 or 7 December 2010.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Departmental Official Visits

Priti Patel: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many events in the UK the Government Equalities Office has  (a) organised and  (b) sent officials to attend in each year since its inception; what the cost to the public purse was in each case; and how many Government Equalities Office staff participated in each such event.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government Equalities Office (GEO) does not hold information showing the number of conferences held or attended, nor do records cover the cost of holding or attending conferences. GEO has one conference code which covers the cost of hosting and attending events, which shows the following:
	
		
			  Financial year  Conference expenditure (£) 
			 2007-08(1) 220,167 
			 2008-09 305,275 
			 2009-10 414,423 
			 2010-11 87,166 
			 (1) GEO was established in October 2007. 
		
	
	Most of this expenditure was for events held in preparations for new legislation, which culminated in the 2010 Equality Act. Another large element was for events which sought to improve the diversity of representation in public life.

Departmental Sponsorship

Priti Patel: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what expenditure the Government Equalities Office incurred on sponsorship in each year since 1997 for which figures are available.

Lynne Featherstone: Since its creation on 12 October 2007, the Government Equalities Office has sponsored the following events:
	
		
			  Event  Calendar year  £ 
			 The Power List 2009 2,350 
			 Civil Service Live 2009 10,350 
			 Everywoman Awards 2009 9,200 
			 Civil Service Equality and Diversity Awards 2009 4,025 
			 The Power List 2010 3,220 
			 Asian Achievers Awards 2010 1,000

Departmental Travel

Paul Maynard: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how much the Government Equalities Office spent on grey fleet in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10.

Lynne Featherstone: In 2008-09 and 2009-10, the Government Equalities Office has spent the following amounts on grey fleet:
	
		
			  Financial Year  Mileage  Expenditure (£) 
			 2008-09 1,231 432.25 
			 2009-10 1,284 447.60

Equality: Regulation

Anne Begg: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what assessment she has made of the likely effect on the implementation of the Equality Act 2010 of the Government's one-in one-out policy on regulations.

Lynne Featherstone: holding answer 2 December 2010
	Most of the Equality Act 2010 came into force on 1 October 2010. The remaining provisions of the Act that have not yet been commenced, like all prospective regulatory measures across Government, are being considered in the light of one-in-one-out policy and their impact on business and others affected.

EU Law

Priti Patel: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many EU directives are pending transposition into domestic legislation by the Government Equalities Office; and what estimate she has made of the cost of each such transposition.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government Equalities Office has no EU Directives pending transposition.

Grants

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what grants have been awarded by the Government Equalities Office in 2010-11 to date; what grants she plans to award in each of the next two years; what the monetary value is of each such grant fund; and to which organisations such grants have been made.

Lynne Featherstone: holding answer 1 December 2010
	I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given on 19 November 2010,  Official Report, columns 989-90W.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Korean Peninsula

Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the North Korean Government in respect of its recent military action against South Korea.

Jeremy Browne: Tensions are likely to remain high until North Korea abandons its provocative behaviour, and violation of UN resolutions, and creates the conditions for the resumption of talks by making verifiable progress towards denuclearisation. Talks between relevant parties offer the best prospect for achieving a resolution of the dispute, but cannot succeed without trust.
	Our ambassador in Pyongyang, and senior officials in London, have made representations to the North Korean Government condemning the military action and urging North Korea to refrain from such attacks in the future.

Iran

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of EU sanctions on Iran; and if he will make a statement.

William Hague: I have no doubt that the strong and unprecedented international sanctions on Iran, including the EU measures, have been instrumental in bringing Iran back to the negotiating table. It is vital that we now maintain this pressure in order to persuade the Iranian Government to address the very real concerns about its nuclear programme.

Iran

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the human rights situation in Iran; and if he will make a statement.

William Hague: The human rights situation in Iran is deplorable. We welcome increased support for the UN resolution on the issue of which we are co-sponsor. We call on Iran to adhere to its international obligations and we will work with partners to encourage the regime to end abuses.

Iran

Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts on sanctions on Iran; and if he will make a statement.

William Hague: My officials and I are in close touch with our EU colleagues as we implement together the EU sanctions on Iran and try to persuade the Iranian Government, through a combination of pressure and engagement, to address the very real concerns about its nuclear programme.

Afghanistan

Helen Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress has been made towards a political settlement in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

William Hague: The inauguration of the High Peace Council in October marked an important milestone for the Afghan Peace and Reintegration programme. The High Peace Council is taking forward political settlement issues, including support for community reintegration cases and engagement with international actors. We support President Karzai's efforts to reconcile with all those willing to meet the conditions he has laid down: renounce al-Qaeda, give up armed struggle; and respect the Afghan constitutional framework. The UK is working in support of President Karzai's approach. All our activity is in support of an Afghan-led process.

Afghanistan

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment is of the political and security situation in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment is of the political and security situation in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

William Hague: Earlier today I laid a written report on recent progress in Afghanistan, as part of the Government's commitment to keep the House regularly updated on the situation in Afghanistan. The report covers the security and political situation including the results of the recent elections, outcomes of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) conference in Lisbon, governance and regional engagement.

Russian Federation: Fossil Fuels

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress he has made on discussions with the Government of the Russian Federation on fossil fuel subsidy reform; and if he will make a statement.

Henry Bellingham: The UK has been instrumental in pushing for fossil fuel subsidy reform through the G20, which includes Russia. The G20 reaffirmed its commitment to phase out fossil fuel subsidies at the G20 summits in Toronto in June 2010 and in Seoul in November 2010.

Middle East

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the state of relations between the UK and the countries of the middle east.

Alistair Burt: Strong relationships with Middle East countries are a priority for the Government. In particular we will continue to work with the United States and the Quartet as well as with our Arab partners to secure progress towards a two state solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. We are also working to elevate our links with the Gulf, and will engage strongly with the new Iraqi Government when formed. We are co-operating strongly with international partners to support the Government of Yemen in its efforts to tackle al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and to ensure urgent reform and development in Yemen.

Gaza Aid Flotilla

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the progress of Israel's investigations into the deaths aboard the Gaza aid flotilla.

Alistair Burt: The establishment of an independent Israeli Commission of inquiry into the Gaza flotilla tragedy was an important step forward. My officials are in regular contact with the Israeli authorities on this issue. As we have made clear it is important that the Commission is able to proceed swiftly, transparently and rigorously, with access to the full evidence available. We have also been in touch with the Commission regarding British witnesses giving testimony.

Yemen

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to visit Yemen.

Alistair Burt: My travel plans are not for public disclosure for security reasons. I can, however, confirm that as part of the preparations for the next Friends of Yemen meeting in Riyadh there will be an intense round of engagement in the Gulf.
	Prior to this meeting, the Government's engagement with Yemen and its Gulf neighbours will be taken forward through a series of ministerial and senior visits to the region.
	The right hon. Member will be aware of the significant security threat to British nationals in Yemen, borne out by attacks on embassy staff in April and October this year. Official visits are necessarily severely limited. My colleagues and I rely on the expert advice of security professionals on the possibility of future visits.

Departmental Air Travel

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of his Department's staff based abroad used  (a) economy class tickets and  (b) low-cost airlines to travel to and from the UK in the latest period for which figures are available.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold information centrally on individual travel by its staff as responsibility for duty travel overseas is devolved to Posts. Obtaining this information from every Post would be at disproportionate cost.
	The standard policy for duty air travel is that on journeys under five hours all staff should travel economy. Value for money and budgetary restraints mean all Posts look to travel by the most cost effective means available.
	Low cost airlines are used for travel to and from the UK.

Departmental Security

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  whether each foreign national who has worked in his Department in the last five years obtained security clearance;
	(2)  what level of security clearance has been given to outside caterers working in his Department in the last three years.

Alistair Burt: All foreign nationals employed directly by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in the UK and in missions abroad in the last five years have been security cleared to the level required for their job. The levels of clearances were in accordance with the Government's National Security Vetting (NSV). Foreign nationals employed by others who have worked on FCO premises in the UK have either been security cleared or escorted by security cleared staff.
	Staff employed by outside catering companies working in the offices of the Foreign arid Commonwealth Office (FCO) within the last three years have been either security cleared to "Security Clearance" (SC), the second highest level under the NSV, or escorted by staff cleared to SC.

Diplomatic Service: Email

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people have access to electronic information sent to his Department's London offices by British embassies and High Commissions.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) takes the protection of its information, including electronic information, very seriously, and complies with the Cabinet Office Security Policy Framework, which covers all areas of security, including technical, physical, procedural and personnel security. Approximately 5,000 staff in the UK have accounts on the FCO's corporate IT system with access to electronic information sent directly to their accounts from our posts overseas, as well as restricted access to certain other system areas containing shared information of direct relevance to their part of FCO business. Most UK users also have access to the FCO's corporate records repository. Documents, including diplomatic reporting from posts, are registered in this system in line with FCO information management policy; there are differing levels of access to the system governed by the corporate records security model.
	FCO information is shared with other Government Departments when appropriate and necessary. All Government Departments are required to conform with Cabinet Office standards to protect data at the relevant classification. We work closely with recipient Departments to ensure that appropriate measures are in place to protect any information we share with them.

Diplomatic Service: Email

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the security of electronic information sent by diplomats.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) takes the protection of its information, including electronic information, very seriously, and complies with the Cabinet Office Security Policy Framework, which covers all areas of security, including technical, physical, procedural and personnel security. In line with Cabinet Office requirements, the FCO completed its annual Security Policy Framework compliance assessment, drawing on the outcome of the FCO's Information Assurance Maturity assessment of May 2010, the results of which were included in the FCO's Statement of Internal Control. In light of recent events, and in response to the request from the National Security Adviser that all Departments review existing processes and systems, the FCO is carrying out a further review of all security measures to ensure these continue to be both robust and proportionate, working with recipient Departments of FCO's data to confirm with them that appropriate measures are in place for any onward handling and distribution of FCO data.

International Cooperation: Climate Change

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's role is in international efforts to address climate change; and if he will make a statement.

Henry Bellingham: We see an effective response to climate change as underpinning our security and prosperity. While the Department of Energy and Climate Change leads on the negotiations on a global agreement, effective deployment of foreign policy assets is crucial to mobilising the political will needed if we are to shape an effective response.

Judaism: Festivals and Special Occasions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to publish in the  Official Report the text of his Chanukah message to the Jewish community; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: Messages of greeting to different religious faiths by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary are published on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website and on the websites of relevant embassies.

Lockerbie: Bombings

Damian Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice his Department received from the British Embassy in Libya in relation to political, commercial and operational consequences of a decision not to release Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi; if he will provide a copy of that advice to the Cabinet Secretary for inclusion in his review of papers relating to the release of Al Megrahi; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) receives regular reporting from our embassy in Tripoli on a wide range of issues. The FCO has provided all relevant documentation to the Cabinet Office for the Cabinet Secretary's review.

Pakistan: Capital Punishment

Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the government of Pakistan on the death sentence passed on Asia Bibi by a court in Punjab for the offence of insulting the Prophet Mohammed.

Alistair Burt: The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. In Pakistan, alongside EU colleagues, we regularly raise our support for its abolition and work with civil society to encourage reform.
	Our high commission in Islamabad has raised the case of Mrs Asia Bibi with the Punjab Government and we will continue to do so at a senior level. Specific representations to the Government of Pakistan are being made by the head of the EU delegation, with UK support, in Islamabad. I raised the case of Asia Bibi with the Pakistan Minister for Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, on 9 December 2010.

Sri Lanka

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on his recent meeting with the Sri Lankan President.

Alistair Burt: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a wide range of foreign policy issues.

Sri Lanka: Human Rights

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The human rights situation in Sri Lanka remains a concern following the end of the military conflict. Key concerns include the persistent culture of impunity for human rights violations and the limits on freedom of expression, in particular intimidation of the media and the political opposition. We continue to raise our concerns both bilaterally with the Government of Sri Lanka and at the UN Human Rights Council. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I discussed with the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister on 19 and 20 October 2010 the importance of improving the human rights situation in Sri Lanka. Our high commission in Colombo co-ordinates closely with international partners in calling upon the Government to take action to protect human rights and investigate abuses whenever they occur.

TRANSPORT

Departmental Air Travel

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many senior civil servants in his Department have taken internal UK flights in an official capacity since 6 May 2010; and how many such flights have been taken by senior civil servants in that period.

Norman Baker: holding answer 6 December 2010
	Since 6 May 2010 28 senior civil servants in the Department for Transport and its agencies have taken a total of 84 internal UK flights.
	Information relating to the central Department contained in the figures above comprises flights booked through the main air travel contract. Information about flights booked in any other way is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Press: Subscriptions

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on press cuttings services in each year since its creation.

Norman Baker: The cost of press cuttings services to the Department in each of the last eight years since its creation in 2002 is provided in the following table for the central Department and its seven Executive agencies.
	
		
			  £000 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 DFT(C) 170.0 164.3 155.7 243.1 252.8 267.3 191.3 187.7 
			 DSA n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 5.5 21.4 5.0 
			 DVLA 1.2 2.5 1.4 1.5 1.9 2.2 3.3 3.7 
			 GCDA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 HA n/a n/a n/a 31.3 58.9 73.4 49.8 62.3 
			 MCA 2.5 0 16.8 16.8 16.8 16.8 16.8 0 
			 VCA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 VOSA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	The 2009-10 cost of press cuttings services for the central Department includes £59,500 for regional (local) press cuttings outsourced by the Central Office of Information (COI). In previous years this service was provided in-house by the COI as part of their Government News Network regional service and itemised cost are not available. The years 2002-03 to 2008-09 do not therefore include the cost of regional press cuttings.
	The Driving Standards Agency and Highways Agency are unable to provide figures specifically for press cuttings services in earlier years.

Departmental Public Expenditure

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much and what proportion of his Department's capital expenditure was allocated to  (a) London and  (b) the north-west in each of the last five financial years.

Norman Baker: Details of the Department for Transport's regional expenditure is published by HM Treasury in its Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses which is available on-line at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/pespub_country_regional_analysis.htm
	Those tables show the following amounts and proportion of the Department's capital expenditure that were allocated to London and the north-west in each of the last five financial years.
	
		
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 London (£ million) 637 841 811 778 719 
			 Percentage 18.4 17.5 17.4 15.0 13.5 
			 North-west (£ million) 360 544 573 622 658 
			 Percentage 10.4 11.3 12.3 12.0 12.4 
		
	
	These figures exclude Capital grant to local authorities, as this information is collated separately by the Department for Communities and Local Government, Department for Children, Schools and Families, Department for Work and Pensions and devolved administrations.

Departmental Railways

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many senior civil servants in his Department have travelled by first class rail in an official capacity since 6 May 2010.

Norman Baker: holding answer 6 December 2010
	In the Department's seven agencies 31 senior civil servants have travelled by first class rail since 6 May 2010.
	The central Department does not record rail travel expenditure by senior civil servants separately. The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Driving Tests: Qualifications

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with industry representative groups on the introduction of the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence; and what estimate he has made of the likely cost to the public purse of the introduction of that certificate.

Michael Penning: The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) implemented the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) following three public consultations and with input from stakeholders, including representatives from:
	GoSkills(GS)
	Skills for Logistics (SfL)
	Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT)
	Road Haulage Association (RHA)
	Freight Transport Association (FTA)
	Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training (JAUPT)
	Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU)
	Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA)
	Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
	Transport Commissioners.
	DSA subsequently established a Driver CPC Advisory Group to consider issues arising from the introduction of Driver CPC, which had its first meeting in November 2010. The group's membership is similar to that listed above but it does not include the Traffic Commissioners, DVLA, or JAUPT. The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport is also a member of the group.
	DSA operates as a trading fund. The services the agency provides are funded by driving and riding test fees and other non-statutory activities. The costs incurred by the agency for the implementation of Driver CPC are being recovered from the driver CPC initial qualification test fees, periodic training approval fees, and driver training hours upload fees.

Electric Vehicles: Local Government

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of electric vehicles used by local authorities in  (a) England,  (b) the West Midlands and  (c) Coventry.

Norman Baker: The Government are committed to supporting the uptake of electric vehicles in the UK. The Secretary of State has recently announced provision of over £400 million to support measures promoting their use and which will be used for consumer incentives, open to all consumers including local authorities, infrastructure and research and development.
	Coventry is part of a Midlands bid for funding under the second wave of the Government's Plugged-In Places scheme. The winning bids will be announced shortly.
	Under the Government funded Low Carbon Vehicle Public Procurement Programme, over 285 vehicles (85 cars and 200 vans) will be bought for use in public fleets of these 41 vans and four cars are for use in the Coventry area.
	The Clean Vehicles Directive (2009/33/EC) requires public authorities and utilities to take into account the environmental impacts, when procuring road vehicles. Guidance on this Directive will be issued to all local authorities.

Network Rail

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much Network Rail has paid to companies in the private sector since 2002.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 8 December 2010
	This is a commercial matter for Network Rail as the owner and operator of the national rail network. The hon. Member should contact Network Rail's acting chief executive at the following address for a response to her question:
	Peter Henderson
	Acting Chief Executive
	Network Rail
	Kings Place
	90 York Way
	London
	N1 9AG.

Railway Stations: Greater London

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to include Clapham high street and Wandsworth road station in his planned platform lengthening programme.

Theresa Villiers: The stations at which platforms will be extended are detailed within Network Rail's updated delivery plan. The plans do not include extending platforms at Clapham high street and Wandsworth road stations. Services that stop at those stations today, and those which are planned to stop there in future do not exceed the length of the current platforms.

Railway Stations: Repairs and Maintenance

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 25 November 2010,  Official Report, columns 52-54WS, on rail investment, what rail infrastructure improvements will be made to  (a) Reading station,  (b) Birmingham station,  (c) London King's Cross station,  (d) Gatwick Airport station and  (e) the East Coast main line.

Theresa Villiers: The Government have secured funding for a number of vital improvements across the network that will provide more capacity for growing passenger and freight services.
	At Reading, £850 million will fund additional platforms, new flyovers and a new depot. The works will allow more passenger and freight trains to operate, reduce delays and will deliver customer benefits on the wider Great Western route.
	The Birmingham Gateway Project will renovate and improve Birmingham New Street station, which handles 75% more trains and over twice the number of passengers it was designed for in the 1960s.
	At London King's Cross, work on a new concourse containing a ticket hall and passenger waiting area is proceeding to complement the new main line platform and improved access to the Underground.
	At Gatwick, improvements are being jointly funded by Network Rail and Gatwick airport to provide a new platform and better passenger circulation areas. The enhancements will remove a bottleneck on the Brighton Main Line.
	On the East Coast Main Line, Network Rail are delivering a package of capacity and reliability enhancements across the route including an upgrade of the 'Joint Line' via Lincoln, new platforms at Finsbury Park, new flyovers at Hitchin and Shaftholme in Yorkshire and improvements at Peterborough.

Railways: Fares

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how he plans to allocate the revenue which will accrue to his Department from train fares in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 6 December 2010
	On 25 November 2010,  Official Report, columns 466-68, the Secretary of State for Transport announced plans for provision of additional rolling stock and electrification, building on the announcements made earlier in the comprehensive spending review. The revenue from fares will help the Government deliver much needed improvements on the rail network, including provision of extra carriages.

Railways: Greater London

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely economic effect of train ticket price increases on  (a) London,  (b) non-metropolitan areas and  (c) metropolitan areas.

Theresa Villiers: Despite the economic downturn, passenger numbers are, in general, still increasing and we expect this trend to continue. The fares increase announced recently will help the Government deliver much needed improvements on the rail network including improving conditions and relieving overcrowding on busy routes.

Road Signs and Markings: Tourism

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had on renewing the guidelines for the siting of brown tourist information signage on routes managed by the Highways Agency.

Michael Penning: The chief executive of the Highways Agency discussed the current tourist signing policy for trunk roads with the Minister for Tourism and Heritage, my hon. Friend the Member for Weston-super-Mare (John Penrose) on 12 October 2010. The Minister indicated that he is considering these matters in the context of his development of a new national tourism strategy. I am also looking into the issue of brown tourist information signage.

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress has been made on rolling stock procurement; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: On 25 November 2010,  Official Report, columns 466-68, the Secretary of State for Transport confirmed the procurement process for new Thameslink trains would go ahead. The identification of a preferred bidder and contract award is anticipated for next year.
	In addition the Secretary of State announced that most of Britain's ageing Intercity 125 'high speed trains' are to be retired. Two alternative options remain under consideration: a revised and lower cost Intercity Express Programme bid from Agility Trains (Hitachi and John Laing), which envisages a mixture of electric trains and 'hybrid' trains with both electric and diesel engines; and a new proposal for a fleet of new all-electric trains which could be coupled to new diesel locomotives where the overhead electric power lines end.
	We are also negotiating with train operators to provide further additional capacity through the procurement of additional carriages in London and other cities. Further details will be announced once these negotiations are concluded. It is expected that the new trains associated with these interventions will be procured by train operators.

Waterloo Station

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department plans to continue to hold a freehold interest in the Waterloo International terminal following any sale.

Theresa Villiers: The freehold of the former Waterloo International terminal is currently vested in BRB (Residuary) Ltd. As recently announced by the Cabinet Office on 14 October 2010, it is proposed that BRB (Residuary) Ltd will be abolished. Discussions have started as to how BRB (Residuary) Ltd's current assets, including Waterloo International terminal, will be managed in the future.
	The Government are committed to ensuring that the former Eurostar platforms at Waterloo International terminal are brought back into use for domestic passenger services.

JUSTICE

Cemeteries

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  if he will assess the level of compliance of Birmingham city council with his Department's guidance on managing the safety of burial ground memorials since January 2010;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of graveyards in which memorials have been fitted with temporary wooden stakes in accordance with his Department's guidance on managing the safety of burial ground memorials in 2010 to date.

Jonathan Djanogly: Responsibility for the management of local authority cemeteries, including the procedures for the safety of staff and visitors, lies with the relevant council. Burial authorities have been encouraged to take account of the Department's guidance, but we have no plans to carry out individual compliance assessments.
	We have not sought to estimate the extent to which wooden or other support stakes for memorials are still being used. Responses to the Ministry of Justice survey of burial ground operators in 2009 indicated that memorials considered to present a risk of causing serious injury were now more likely to be identified by suitable signs rather than to be fitted with stakes. It would be consistent with the Department's memorial safety guidance for the use of such stakes to be reduced.

Legal Costs

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effects of the proposals in the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper on the prospects of success of personal injury claimants whose costs will be restricted.

Jonathan Djanogly: A set of impact assessments were published alongside our "Proposals for Reform of Civil Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales-Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson's Recommendations", which include a preliminary assessment of the impact of individual proposals. The preliminary impact assessments can be found at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/consultations/consultations.htm
	and respondents are invited to comment on the preliminary impacts identified.

Legal Costs

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will take steps to provide funding for meritorious and difficult cases in the event that conditional fee agreement success fees and after the event insurance premiums are rendered non-recoverable.

Jonathan Djanogly: The consultation paper, "Proposals for Reform of Civil Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales-Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson's Recommendations", published on 15 November 2010, sets out proposals for abolishing recoverability of success fees and after the event insurance premiums. It also includes possible refinements to help the claimants deal with the consequences of non-recoverability. The aim of the proposals is provide access to justice at proportionate costs for claimants and defendants. We will take final decisions on the way forward in the light of the consultation responses.

Legal Costs

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  if he will estimate the likely annual reduction in income of membership organisations attributable to the implementation of proposals in the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper;
	(2)  if he will estimate the likely annual reduction in income to trades unions attributable to the implementation of proposals in the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper.

Jonathan Djanogly: The consultation paper, "Proposals for Reform of Civil Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales-Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson's Recommendations", published on 15 November 2010, includes a proposal to abolish the recoverability of the self-insurance element by membership organisations (as prescribed under section 30 of the Access to Justice 1999), if the recoverability of after the event insurance premiums is abolished as proposed. We intend to consider the potential impacts further over the consultation period and will take into account the views of those responding to our consultations on costs and benefits when reaching final decisions.

Legal Costs

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  if he will estimate the cost to  (a) local authorities and  (b) the NHS of care for those involved in accidents who will not pursue claims to pay for treatment as a result of implementation of proposals in the Legal Aid and the Civil Litigation Funding Green Papers;
	(2)  if he will assess the effect on clinical standards of the reduction in the number of claims of clinical negligence anticipated by the Legal Aid and the Civil Justice Funding Green Papers.

Jonathan Djanogly: I believe that our proposals will enable necessary claims to be brought and will allow access to justice at proportionate costs for claimants and defendants. Precise impacts are of course complicated to assess and subject to uncertainty. We intend to consider the potential impacts further over the consultation period and will take into account the views of those responding to our consultations on costs and benefits when reaching final decisions.

Legal Costs

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the average likely shortfall in costs to be met by a fast track claimant as the consequence of the proposals in the Civil Litigation Funding Green Paper as augmented by the proposed 10 per cent. uplift in damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity in  (a) cash terms and  (b) as a proportion of the damages recovered.

Jonathan Djanogly: We have made no such estimate at this stage. Preliminary impact assessments were published alongside our "Proposals for Reform of Civil Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales'-Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson's Recommendations", available at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/consultations/jackson-review-151110.htm
	We will take into account the views of those responding to the consultation on costs and benefits when reaching final decisions.

Legal Costs

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department placed restrictions on whom organisations invited to consultation meetings on the Legal Aid and the Civil Litigation Funding Green Papers might send to such meetings; whether any invited organisations have not been allowed to send delegates they have nominated; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Djanogly: I held two separate meetings with representative bodies following publication of the legal aid and the civil litigation funding and costs consultation papers. 25 bodies were invited to the former, on the legal aid proposals, and 17 to the latter on civil litigation funding and costs. Due to limitations on the available space, and to facilitate a structured discussion, each organisation was invited to send only one representative. The choice of representative was left to each individual organisation. The consultation continues until 14 February 2011 and Ministry of Justice officials will consider any future meeting requests from individual organisations during this period. In line with the Code of Practice on Consultation, a summary of the comments received for each consultation will be published alongside the Government's official response, which is expected in spring 2011.

Legal Costs

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will assess the consequences for small businesses of increases to the cost of litigation for commercial disputes.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Government are proposing to reduce the cost of litigation rather than just not increase it. This should have positive consequences for small businesses.

Legal Costs

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what evidence of  (a) a compensation culture and  (b) perceptions of a compensation culture he evaluated in drawing up his proposals for reform of (i) legal aid and (ii) civil litigation funding.

Jonathan Djanogly: Neither the Government's proposals for reform of legal aid nor those for civil litigation funding and costs were informed by specific evidence of compensation culture or perceptions of a compensation culture. However, the Government takes the view that legal aid has been available for a very wide range of issues which has led to the availability of taxpayer funding for unnecessary litigation. Our proposals for reform will ensure that the taxpayer pays for legal advice and litigation only in relation to serious issues which have sufficient priority to justify the use of public funds.
	Our proposals for reform of civil litigation funding and costs are based on Lord Justice Jackson's year-long review of "Civil Litigation Costs". Lord Young of Graffham in his report into the compensation culture and health and safety, "Common Sense, Common Safety", published in October 2010, argues that incentives for claiming compensation must change and strongly endorses the Jackson proposals.

Magistrates Courts: Sentencing

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 17 November 2010,  Official Report, column 861W, on magistrates courts: sentencing, if he will place in the Library information on the category of crime into which each case fell.

Crispin Blunt: Pursuant to the answer of 17 November 2010,  Official Report, column 861W, two tables (for the years 2008 and 2009) of the number of defendants proceeded against, found guilty, sentenced, sentence breakdown, for offence groups, by local justice area, for England and Wales, have been placed in the House Library.

Prisoners' Transfers: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders were transferred from prisons in England and Wales to prisons in Northern Ireland in each of the last six years.

Crispin Blunt: The intra-jurisdictional transfer of prisoners between the United Kingdom is governed by the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997.
	The number of prisoners transferred from England and Wales to Northern Ireland from 2004 to 2009 is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2004 5 
			 2005 17 
			 2006 10 
			 2007 14 
			 2008 5 
			 2009 16

Prisoners: Foreign Nationals

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many foreign nationals were serving prison sentences of  (a) four years or less and  (b) more than four years on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Crispin Blunt: As at 30 September 2010 there were 3,365 foreign national prisoners serving sentences of less than four years and 4,320 serving sentences of four years or more (including indeterminate sentences).
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording systems, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisons: Mobile Phones

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many unauthorised  (a) mobile telephones and  (b) SIM cards have been found in prisons in England and Wales in each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: NOMS is determined to address the risks that mobile phones present to security and to the safety of the public. We have implemented a strategy to minimise the number of mobile phones entering prisons, to find phones that do get in and to disrupt mobile phones that cannot be found.
	The requested information is set out in the tables but, as the recording methodology changed in April 2010, the figures are not directly comparable.
	Analysis of mobile phones and SIM cards is carried out at a central unit. Prior to April 2010, the number of phones and SIM cards that were analysed, or "interrogated", was recorded rather than the total number of "finds". The following table shows the number of interrogations that took place from December 2009 to March 2010. These figures do not reflect any phones or SIM cards not sent to our central unit for analysis, or which were sent but not analysed. A phone containing a SIM card (which would constitute one "find") would usually have been counted as two separate interrogations.
	
		
			  Month , year  Total number of "interrogations" 
			 December 2009 675 
			 January 2010 853 
			 February 2010 938 
			 March 2010 869 
		
	
	Since April 2010, prisons in England and Wales have been instructed to send mobile phones and SIM cards for analysis, or to advise if a phone or SIM card has been found but has not been sent for analysis. The following table outlines the total number of "finds" in all prisons for each month from April 2010 to November 2010. One "find" could constitute a mobile phone without a SIM card inside, a SIM card only, or a mobile phone with a SIM card inside.
	
		
			   Total number of "finds" 
			  2010  
			 April 463 
			 May 528 
			 June 859 
			 July 658 
			 August 576 
			 September 659 
			 October 568 
			 November 633 
		
	
	The figures contained in the tables have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing data, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. These data are not subject to audit.

Prisons: Mother and Baby Units

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many mothers and babies were held in prison in each of the last five years.

Crispin Blunt: Between 1 May 2010 and 31 October 2010 the average population of mother and babies in prisons in England was 54 and 51 respectively. The population of mother and baby units includes expectant mothers.
	Information prior to this date could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Probation: Working Hours

Claire Perry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many working days were lost  (a) on average per staff member and  (b) in total in each probation area in the latest period for which figures are available.

Crispin Blunt: The figures requested are set out in the following table for the period April 2009 to March 2010.
	
		
			  Probation staff sickness absence: 2009-10 
			  Probation board/trust  (a) Average days lost due to sickness absence per person (FTE)  (b) Total days lost due to sickness absence 
			 Avon and Somerset 6.6 3,518.0 
			 Bedfordshire 10.6 1,941.5 
			 Cambridgeshire 8.4 2,152.3 
			 Cheshire 9.4 3,313.6 
			 Cumbria 8.0 1,445.3 
			 Derbyshire 8.7 3,075.0 
			 Devon and Cornwall 10.9 4,943.4 
			 Dorset 9.1 2,352.7 
			 Durham 9.1 2,445.8 
			 Dyfed Powys 7.8 1,351.0 
			 Essex 8.2 3,605.0 
			 Gloucestershire 8.6 1,489.5 
			 Greater Manchester 10.0 12,001.6 
			 Gwent 13.0 3,174.7 
			 Hampshire 8.7 5,080.0 
			 Hertfordshire 9.1 2,263.0 
			 Humberside 7.5 3,212.4 
			 Kent 11.1 5,000.7 
			 Lancashire 9.4 5,482.1 
			 Leicestershire 7.9 4,029.0 
			 Lincolnshire 7.9 1,801.6 
			 London 12.0 32,660.5 
			 Merseyside 10.2 7,285.7 
			 Norfolk 9.8 2,746.5 
			 North Wales 11.5 2,911.5 
			 North Yorkshire 6.5 1,326.0 
			 Northamptonshire 9.7 2,650.2 
			 Northumbria 12.1 7,608.5 
			 Nottinghamshire 8.3 4,732.7 
			 South Wales 11.3 6,277.7 
			 South Yorkshire 9.5 5,582.3 
			 Staffordshire 11.5 5,082.1 
			 Suffolk 7.9 1,776.7 
			 Surrey 10.1 2,577.9 
			 Sussex 9.5 3,851.1 
			 Teesside 10.8 3,360.6 
			 Thames Valley 10.0 6,568.6 
			 Warwickshire 10.1 1,578.0 
			 West Mercia 8.5 3,138.1 
			 West Midlands 10.0 14,000.6 
			 West Yorkshire 7.2 7,004.1 
			 Wiltshire 9.1 1,600.0 
			 National total 9.8 197,997.3 
			  Data Sources and Quality: These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Self-locking Snares

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convictions there were for offences related to the use of self-locking snares in Sussex in each year since 2005.

Crispin Blunt: The use of self-locking snares is an offence under section 11 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 but cannot be separately identified from other offences under section 11 by court proceedings data held by the Ministry of Justice.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan: Agriculture

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the potential contribution of agricultural development in conflict resolution in Afghanistan.

Andrew Mitchell: There are a wide range of factors which impact on the insurgency and conflict resolution in Afghanistan. Of these, reduced legal economic opportunities could be a factor driving some young males into joining the insurgency and armed opposition groups, as well as dissatisfactions associated with poor governance and corruption.
	The agricultural sector plays a large part in the economy of Afghanistan. Furthermore, the 'Strategic Conflict Assessment of Afghanistan', published by the Recovery and Development Consortium in November 2008, suggests that men in rural communities are most at risk of recruitment into armed opposition groups. Providing increased and legitimate employment opportunities in the sector may, in addition to improving rural livelihoods, reduce the likelihood of disaffected, unemployed male youths joining the armed opposition. Conflict-sensitive community programmes which operate at the sub-district level may also help reduce tensions as well as resolve disputes over land ownership and natural resources.

Afghanistan: Agriculture

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding the Government has provided for  (a) agricultural development and  (b) emergency food aid in Afghanistan in each of the last five years.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) spent a total of £31.8 million on the agriculture sector in Afghanistan between 2005-06 and 2009-10. Of this, £30.5 million was spent on agricultural development and emergency food aid. The breakdown of this funding over each of the past five financial years is as follows.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10  Total 
			 Emergency Food Aid 0 0 0 14 1.2 15.2 
			 Agricultural Development 2.1 1.2 0 6.5 5.5 15.3

Afghanistan: Agriculture

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans his Department has to assist agricultural development in Afghanistan.

Andrew Mitchell: Agriculture is the backbone of the Afghan economy, contributing more than one-third of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Department for International Development (DFID) will continue to support a range of agricultural development programmes in Afghanistan over the coming years, to improve access to markets, add value to farmers' produce and provide support for agricultural livelihoods. For example, the new Helmand Growth Programme will provide support to farmers by providing skills training and access to credit and markets, while the Comprehensive Agriculture and Rural Development Facility provides incentives to sustain the reduction in poppy cultivation, by promoting licit agricultural livelihoods and strengthening agricultural markets. A decision on future programmes supporting agricultural development in Afghanistan will be made following the current Bilateral Aid Review, which will conclude early next year.

Afghanistan: Farmers

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding the Government has provided for climate change adaptation by smallholder farmers in Afghanistan; and what proportion this represented of total Government funding in respect of  (a) climate change and  (b) climate change adaptation (i) overseas and (ii) in the developing world in each of the last five years.

Andrew Mitchell: Our central recording systems do not capture this level of detail for project expenditure. Compiling the requested information would incur disproportionate cost.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) recognises that smallholder farmers are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and we take this into account in the design and implementation of a number of our development activities, including through our research programme and our adaptation programmes. In 2009 the Stockholm Environment Institute produced a study on the socio-economic impacts of climate change in Afghanistan. This has informed our approach to ensuring that UK aid programmes are screened for their impact on climate change.
	The UK Government have committed to provide £1.5 billion in Fast Start finance over the period 2010-12, to help the developing world carry out the urgent work needed to adapt to climate change, adopt clean technology and reduce emissions from deforestation. In 2010-11 the UK is providing approximately 41% of its Fast Start allocation for adaptation, a significant share of which has been designed to benefit smallholder farmers. The Department is in the course of monitoring and evaluating the impact of these ongoing programmes.

Afghanistan: Food

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the level of threat to food security in Afghanistan.

Andrew Mitchell: The food security situation in Afghanistan is not considered critical. Based on information from the Afghan Ministry of Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL), supported by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), national wheat prices have risen but remain affordable, and the availability of wheat is better than average due to last year's bumper harvest and better than average production this year. There is an overall grain shortage of around 750,000 metric tonnes, however there is good access to imports from Kazakhstan. The Government of Afghanistan and the international community, including the FAO and the UN's World Food Programme (WFP), are closely following the situation and have the capacity to provide support to food insecure areas and groups if required.

Burundi: Agriculture

Eric Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  how much his Department spent on agricultural development in Burundi in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what plans his Department has to provide agricultural development assistance to Burundi.

Stephen O'Brien: Support from the Department for International Development (DFID) in the agricultural sector in Burundi in the last five years has been focused on food security interventions, with a total of £1.88 million contributed through the World Food Programme (WFP) and a UNDP-managed emergency support fund.
	Details of funding in each financial year are as follows.
	
		
			  Financial Year  £ million 
			 2005-06 1.23 
			 2006-07 0.65 
		
	
	DFID has no plans to provide direct support to the agricultural sector in Burundi in the future. However, DFID supports the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF), which has so far provided a total of £540,000 to two businesses in Burundi for agricultural initiatives. Businesses are selected through a competitive process according to the criteria applied by the relevant funding window.

Burundi: Agriculture

Eric Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  how much the Government has spent on climate change adaptation for smallholder farmers in Burundi in each of the last five years; and what proportion of total Government expenditure on  (a) climate change programmes overseas,  (b) climate change adaptation overseas,  (c) climate change programmes in developing countries and  (d) climate change adaptation in developing countries this represents;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to assist the poorest and most marginal farmers in Burundi to adapt to climate change  (a) currently,  (b) in the next five to 10 years and  (c) over the next 50 years.

Stephen O'Brien: The UK has not supported smallholder farmers in Burundi to adapt to climate change in the last five years.
	Although the Department for International Development (DFID) does not plan to provide direct support to the agricultural sector in Burundi, we support two initiatives which could benefit farmers in the country. DFID has funded a study by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) into the economic effects of climate change in Burundi. DFID has also provided $15 million to the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF), for a new funding window on renewable energy and adaptation to climate technologies. This will provide matching funding to those businesses from the East African Community, including Burundi, that are successful in a competitive application process, and aims to support initiatives that will have a direct impact on the rural poor.

Burundi: Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme

Eric Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans his Department has to provide assistance to Burundi for the purposes of meeting its Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme commitments.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) strongly supports implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and the African Union, to establish long term investment plans and increase the proportion of national budgets for agriculture. DFID is supporting the CAADP process through a £10 million grant to a Multi-Donor Trust fund with the World Bank, which facilitates implementation of CAADP. We do not provide separate bilateral funding to Burundi to support CAADP implementation.

Burundi: Food

Eric Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of food security in Burundi;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the likely effects of climate change on  (a) agriculture and  (b) food security in Burundi.

Stephen O'Brien: The 2010 global hunger index ranks Burundi as one of four countries in the world with an 'extremely alarming' level of hunger. More than 50% of people in Burundi are undernourished. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates that Burundi has a chronic deficit of 300,000 tonnes of cereals. The World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that Burundi's average per capita production is 1,400 kilocalories per clay, compared to a recommended daily intake of 2,100. Even during harvest season, households spend up to 60% of their income on food.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) funded a recent study by the Stockholm Environment Institute into the economic effects of climate change in Burundi. This projects risks of higher temperatures and reduced rainfall, as well as a greater incidence of events producing high intensity rainfall in a short period. Prolonged dryness can create groundwater scarcity and reduced pastureland, which in turn would lead to the loss of harvests and of livestock production. In order to adapt successfully, Burundi would need to diversify its commercial crops and introduce more effective agricultural production systems, including agroforestry and terracing. Without adaptation, Burundi would be at risk of chronic famines.

Burundi: Food

Eric Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on emergency food aid to Burundi in each of the last five years.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) has provided £3.17 million of emergency food aid to Burundi in the last five years, through the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Details of funding in each financial year are as follows.
	
		
			  Financial year  £ million 
			 2005-06 1.77 
			 2006-07 0.7 
			 2007-08 0.7

Departmental Conferences

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's annual budget for conferences was at  (a) 7 May 2010 and  (b) 7 December 2010.

Stephen O'Brien: Detailed information on the Department for International Development's (DFID) budget planned for conferences is not centrally held and therefore not available without incurring disproportionate cost.
	However, in accordance with the cross-government freeze on marketing and advertising spending, all conferences paid for by DFID are being reviewed and agreed on a case-by-case basis.

Developing Countries: Civil Society

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to encourage the strengthening of civil society and local media in developing countries in order to help citizens hold their governments to account.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) supports the strengthening of civil society and local media in developing countries through many centrally managed funds and in-country programmes. For example, DFID launched in October the new Global Poverty Action Fund which supports civil society organisations focused on service delivery in support of poverty reduction and the most off-track Millennium Development Goals in poor countries.
	Support for this work is also provided through the Civil Society Challenge Fund and the Governance and Transparency Fund with more than 167 projects in more than 90 developing countries building the capacity of more than 800 local civil society and media organisations to enable them to better support citizens to hold their own governments to account.

Developing Countries: Micro-level Insurance Services

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to support the provision of affordable micro-level insurance services in developing countries.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) supports the FinMark Trust for Southern Africa, which has developed a far reaching programme on micro-insurance. Further to its research on the opportunities and constraints for delivering insurance to low-income households in South Africa, the trust has supported diagnostic studies, regulatory reforms and business innovations in several countries, including Ethiopia and Zambia. This is partly through sponsorship of the global Access to Insurance Initiative. In Kenya, the DFID supported Financial Sector Deepening Trust (FSDT) has supported micro-insurance in two ways: by advising on the design of Safaricom and Equity Bank's M-Kesho product; and to develop and demonstrate the market viability of index-based insurance products to reduce the impact of weather risk on smallholder farmers and pastrolists.
	In India, DFID's Poorest States Inclusive Growth Programme (currently under design) is expected to facilitate the development of a range of affordable financial products, including insurance. By the end of 2015, our aim is for an additional 3 million women in the four poorest states to have access to insurance services. We are also supporting the institutional strengthening of the microfinance sector in countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh, thereby indirectly assisting the development of a range of financial products including micro-insurance. Going forward, DFID is considering how to further enhance the provision of affordable micro-insurance in a range of countries, in line with its 2011-15 business plan commitment. Further details will be released in due course.

Developing Countries: Money Laundering

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking in co-operation with the International Monetary Fund to tackle money laundering in developing countries.

Stephen O'Brien: Corruption seriously undermines development efforts, and impacts most upon the poor. Anti-money laundering is an important tool for increasing the chances of getting caught, and sanctioned, when using the proceeds of corruption. Support for strengthening anti-money laundering systems in developing countries is a core dimension of the Department for International Development's (DFID's) anti-corruption strategy.
	The International Monetary Fund (IMF) aims to improve global compliance with anti-money laundering standards. It is addressing this through targeted assistance to countries on the basis of need and willingness to engage, with a focus on low and middle income countries. Assistance is offered through a module-based approach tailored to each country's context, and includes: needs assessments; risk-based approach to anti-money laundering; strengthening the legal and regulatory framework; and enforcement of anti-money laundering regimes by national institutions. Recipients of assistance since mid 2009 include Ghana, Indonesia, Nigeria, Vietnam and the West Bank and Gaza.
	DFID has committed £1.3 million to the IMF for this work from January 2010 to April 2014. This is provided through a multi-donor trust fund (other donors include Switzerland, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Canada and Japan). DFID sits on the Steering Committee for the Trust Fund.

Great Lakes: Agriculture

Eric Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the potential role for agricultural development in providing  (a) an incentive to desist from conflict and  (b) a subsequent peace dividend for the Great Lakes region.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) has not done such an assessment for the countries in Great Lakes region specifically, but our experience in post-conflict environments is that economic interventions in agriculture can be an important tool for stabilisation. For example, in Rwanda, agricultural development will continue to be the primary driver for poverty reduction which, in turn, should help to reduce conflict. In addition, DFID's Land Tenure programme is helping to reduce conflicts by settling land disputes in Rwanda.
	DFID is also supporting the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and the African Union, through a £10 million contribution to the CAADP Multi Donor Trust fund at the World Bank. The CAADP is assisting countries in the Great Lakes region to establish long term investment plans for agriculture, including increasing the proportion of national budgets for agriculture.

India: Agriculture

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment his Department has made of the effects of climate change on  (a) agriculture and  (b) food security in India.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) has supported a number of publicly available assessments of the impact of climate change on agriculture and food security. These are available at:
	www.worlp.com
	and
	www.mprlp.in
	Economic and population growth is increasing the demand for water, food and energy in many countries, India included. Our assessment is that climate change is compounding this and will impact on agriculture and food security in India in a number of ways. Temperature increases, unpredictable monsoons and disease could reduce agricultural productivity, which could contribute to further increases in the price of food, food insecurity and child malnutrition. The poorest people are likely to feel the hardest impacts, with women and children being most affected.

India: Agriculture

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to seek to ensure that the  (a) poorest and  (b) most marginal farmers in India can adapt to climate change in (i) 2010-11, (ii) the next five to 10 years and (iii) the next 50 years;
	(2)  what plans his Department has to assist India in its agricultural development.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) is supporting the poorest and most marginal farmers in the Indian states of Orissa and Madhya Pradesh to increase their income, diversify their livelihoods, improve their food security and better adapt to climate change (through forestry, water resources development, rain-fed farming and decentralising rural administration). In 2010-11, we are supporting 20,680 of the poorest households and 16,503 of the most marginal farmer households in these states to adapt to climate change.
	In terms of future plans, the Secretary of State for International Development has launched a bilateral aid review of all DFID country programmes, including India, to ensure that we are giving aid where it is most needed, to help the world's poorest people. We are in close dialogue with the Government of India about the future of the India programme. Details will be announced upon conclusion of the review process.

India: Agriculture

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much the Government has spent on  (a) agricultural development and  (b) emergency food aid for India in each of the last five years.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) spent the following on agricultural development in India in each of the last five years.
	
		
			  Financial year  £ million 
			 2009-10 6.7 
			 2008-09 11.2 
			 2007-08 14.4 
			 2006-07 17.1 
			 2005-06 14.2 
		
	
	The UK Government have not provided emergency food aid to India in any of the last five years as the Indian Government has not requested us to.

India: Climate Change

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has spent on climate change adaptation for smallholder farmers in India in each of the last five years; and what proportion this represents of  (a) total spending on climate change overseas,  (b) total spending on climate change adaptation overseas,  (c) total spending on climate change in the developing world and  (d) total spending on climate change adaptation in the developing world in each such year.

Andrew Mitchell: Our central recording systems do not capture this level of detail for project expenditure. Compiling the requested information would incur disproportionate cost.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) recognises that smallholder farmers are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and we take this into account in the design and implementation of a number of our development activities, including through our research programme and our adaptation programmes.
	The UK Government have committed to provide £1.5 billion in Fast Start finance over the period 2010-12, to help the developing world carry out the urgent work needed to adapt to climate change, adopt clean technology and reduce emissions from deforestation. In 2010-11 the UK is providing approximately 41% of its Fast Start allocation for adaptation, a significant share of which has been designed to benefit smallholder farmers. The Department is in the course of monitoring and evaluating the impact of these ongoing programmes.

India: Food

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the food security situation in India.

Andrew Mitchell: According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), there are 237.7 million undernourished people in India (FAO, 2010). India's 2007 National Family Health Survey (3) estimates that 43% of Indian children are underweight.
	The British Government have contributed to the following publicly available assessments of the food security situation in India: the National and state level Rural Food Security Atlases produced by the World Food Programme and the MS Swaminathan Foundation:
	http://www.wfp.org.in/
	and the International Food Policy Research Institute Hunger and State Level Hunger Indexes:
	http://www.ifpri.org/publication/2010-global-hunger-index
	http://www.ifpri.org/publication/comparisons-hunger-across-states-india-state-hunger-index
	The Department for International Development (DFID) has also recently supported an analysis of the two latest rounds of India's National Family Health Survey. State comparisons show that child nutrition improved most when women had their first child later or had better household access to food grains.

Namibia: Food

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the food security situation in Namibia.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) provides financial support to the Southern Africa Development Community to strengthen monitoring of, and responses towards, improved food security. Through this programme, DFID has supported the Namibia Vulnerability Assessment Committee (VAC) to produce the National Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis (VAA) Comprehensive Assessment in August 2010-11, which includes an assessment of the current state of vulnerability and a prognosis for 2011. Main findings were that immediate food security responses were required for northern populations and that a substantial portion of the population throughout the country had limited access to basic services. The Government of Namibia has taken action to address these findings.

Swaziland: Maternity Services

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the government of Swaziland on the provision of clean and sanitary conditions in maternity units in that country to help prevent the spread of HIV to newborn babies.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not have a bilateral aid programme in Swaziland.
	The UK Government supports the call for the elimination of paediatric AIDS and is working with others to scale up prevention of mother to child transmission services.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Animal Experiments: Primates

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of wild-caught primates to be used in scientific research in the UK in  (a) 2015 and  (b) 2020.

Lynne Featherstone: Since 1995 Home Office policy has prohibited the use of wild-caught non-human primates except where exceptional and specific justification can be established. Application of these stringent criteria has meant that the Home Office has not authorised the first time use of any wild-caught primates in regulated procedures in the United Kingdom for more than 10 years. I cannot foresee any future circumstances in which such exceptional and specific justification would be established.

Asylum

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on no-notice removals for families unsuccessful in seeking asylum.

Damian Green: Since the ruling in the High Court on 16 July, the UK Border Agency's policy is not to carry out reduced notice removals. The agency's policy is to give at least 72 hours notice of removal. However, previous to the injunction issued on 21 May 2010, in exceptional circumstances where the removal could not be managed in any other way, a policy of giving a reduced period of notice was used.

Asylum

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department plans to take to ensure that asylum-seeking families have access to good quality legal advice in the early stages of the asylum-seeking process.

Damian Green: We work closely with the Ministry of Justice, the Legal Services Commission (LSC) and the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) to ensure that applicants are able to access appropriate levels of advice.
	The LSC has introduced the Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Scheme (IAAS), which requires all advisers doing publicly funded work to be accredited to an appropriate standard and this became compulsory in August 2005.
	On 15 November the Early Legal Advice Project (ELAP) was launched. This project is a new approach that will be tested in the midlands and east region to improve decisions through early legal advice. ELAP will ensure that all applicants, including asylum seeking families, in the midlands and east region have the opportunity to access legal advice regarding their asylum claim early on in the process. The legal representatives that are taking part in ELAP have all been approved by the Legal Services Commission (LSC) and are required to be level 2 qualified.

Asylum: Deportation

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers identified for deportation were removed from their accommodation prior to deportation at an hour before 8 am since January 2010.

Damian Green: For the period January to November 2010, the UK Border Agency arrested a total of 585 failed asylum seekers on enforcement visits from their residential accommodation between midnight and 7.59 am. Most of these arrests took place between 6 am and 7 am following an individual case-by-case risk assessment which takes into account the likelihood of failed asylum seekers being at the premises at the time of arrest or the need to travel to the airport in time for the flight.
	The figures provided are sourced from management information tools; they are not quality assured under National Statistics protocols and are subject to change. The figures provided do not constitute part of National Statistics and therefore should be treated as provisional.

Asylum: Deportation

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department takes to inform the schools of children of asylum seekers who have been deported with these children of the action that has been taken.

Damian Green: The procedures the UK Border Agency has in place for the removal and deportation of all categories of immigration offenders, including failed asylum seekers and their families, are set out in the Enforcement Instructions and Guidance (EIG) manual available to view on the UK Border Agency website at:
	www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/policyandlaw/guidance/enforcement
	In chapter 45 of this guidance staff are instructed to notify local child welfare agencies, which include schools, of a family's detention and removal from the UK.
	The UK Border Agency is currently piloting a new approach to managing family cases. A key element of this is better communication and partnership working with other agencies to manage families within the immigration system who are in their care.

Asylum: Finance

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will take steps to link the level of support payments to asylum seekers to changes to the level of benefit payments.

Damian Green: holding answer 13 December 2010
	The UK Border Agency reviews the level of support provided to destitute asylum seekers annually. In doing so, a number of factors are considered which may include changes to the level of benefit payments. There are currently no plans to make a direct link between the level of support provided to asylum seekers and the level of benefit payments.

Asylum: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people presented themselves for asylum to the immigration authorities in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and what the outcome of each application was.

Damian Green: The information is not held centrally and can be obtained only through examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.

Asylum: Work Permits

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has assessed the merits of allowing asylum seekers to apply for a work permit after six months; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: holding answer 13 December 2010
	The Government believe it is important to maintain a distinction between economic migration and asylum and that is why an asylum applicant's claim needs to have been outstanding for at least one year before they can apply for permission to work. This is in line with our obligations under the EU reception conditions directive.
	We have considered the merits of reducing this threshold, but we believe such a reduction would encourage those who are not genuinely in need of protection to apply for asylum for economic reasons.

Criminal Records

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effect on the proportion of disclosures processed within existing target times of the planned budget reduction for the Criminal Records Bureau; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: The Criminal Records Bureau and the Home Office Board will work closely together over the next four years to ensure that any planned staff reductions identified as part of the spending review will not have a detrimental effect on the agency's performance.

Criminal Records

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the  (a) expenditure and  (b) income of the Criminal Records Bureau was in each year since 2005.

Lynne Featherstone: The following table shows the income and the expenditure of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) in each year since 2005.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Income  Expenditure 
			 2004-05 65.2 73.2 
			 2005-06 75.9 78.1 
			 2006-07 93.2 79.5 
			 2007-08 97.8 88.1 
			 2008-09 113.2 107 
			 2009-10 127.2 122.8

Criminal Records: Reading West

Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those resident in Reading West constituency were subject to more than one Criminal Records Bureau check in the most recent 12 months for which figures are available.

Lynne Featherstone: The information is not available in the absence of the particular constituency post codes. However, nationally, the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) issued 4.3 million certificates during the period 1 December 2009 to 30November 2010. Of these, approximately 504,000 were repeat applications. The CRB can provide the information requested if you write to the chief executive with the constituency postcodes that apply.
	There is a common myth that a CRB certificate cannot be used for more than one position: this is not true. Currently, there is scope for checks to be ported but, because some of the checks won't include convictions that could have occurred after the date of issue, some employers choose not to accept a previously issued check.
	The Government have pledged to review the criminal records regime. Among other aims, the review will consider the fundamental principles behind vetting and barring and will determine how CRB checks may be less bureaucratic. The review will be completed early next year.

Deportation

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many removal directions for illegal migrants have been cancelled by the UK Border Agency in the latest period for which figures are available; what the reasons were in each case; how many of these removal directions involved non-refundable flights; and how much it cost the agency to cancel such flights.

Damian Green: holding answer 13 December 2010
	 3,584(1) removal directions were cancelled by the UK Border Agency for non-asylum cases for the period 1 April-4 December 2010. This figure is based on instances of failed removals not numbers of individuals, ie one person could fail to be removed on a number of occasions.
	The reasons in each case, the number of cases involving non-refundable flights and the cost to the agency to cancel such flights could be obtained by a detailed examination of individual records only at disproportionate cost.
	There are many reasons for the failure of removal directions. Among the most common are: further or additional representations received on a case (the most common of these are judicial review applications and initial asylum claims); disruption by the individual being removed; and cancellation of flights.
	The vast majority of tickets booked for removals are either fully or part refundable.
	(1 )These figures are provisional, based on management information, not subject to the detailed checks that apply for National Statistics and may be subject to change.

Deportation

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many removal directions for foreign national prisoners have been cancelled by the UK Border Agency in the latest period for which figures are available; what the reasons were in each case; how many of these removal directions involved non-refundable flights; and how much it cost the Agency to cancel such flights.

Damian Green: holding answer 13 December 2010
	 1,143(1) removal directions were cancelled by UK Border Agency for foreign national prisoner (FNP) cases for the period 1 April-4 December 2010. This figure is based on instances of failed removals not numbers of individuals, i.e. one person could fail to be removed on a number of occasions. These FNP failed removals form part of the asylum and non asylum data supplied in separate answers, they are not additional failed removals.
	The reasons in each case, the number of cases involving non-refundable flights and the cost to the Agency to cancel such flights could be obtained only by a detailed examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.
	There are many reasons for the failure of removal directions. Amongst the most common are: further or additional representations received on a case (the most common of these are Judicial Review applications and initial asylum claims); disruption by the individual being removed; and cancellation of flights.
	The vast majority of tickets booked for removals are either fully or part refundable.
	(1)These figures are provisional, based on management information, not subject to the detailed checks that apply for National Statistics and may be subject to change.

Deportation

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many removal directions for failed asylum seekers have been cancelled by the UK Border Agency in the latest period for which figures are available; what the reasons were in each case; how many of these removal directions involved non-refundable flights; and how much it cost the Agency to cancel such flights.

Damian Green: holding answer 13 December 2010
	4,700(1) removal directions were cancelled by the UK Border Agency for asylum cases for the period 1 April to 4 December 2010. This figure is based on instances of failed removals not numbers of individuals, i.e. one person could fail to be removed on a number of occasions.
	The reasons in each case, the number of cases involving non-refundable flights and the cost to the Agency to cancel such flights could be obtained only by a detailed examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.
	There are many reasons for the failure of removal directions. Among the most common are: further or additional representations received on a case (the most common of these are Judicial Review applications and initial asylum claims); disruption by the individual being removed; and cancellation of flights.
	The vast majority of tickets booked for removals are either fully or part refundable.
	(1) These figures are provisional, based on management information, not subject to the detailed checks that apply for National Statistics and may be subject to change.

Deportation: Offenders

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how much was spent on the facilitated return scheme in each year since 2007-08;
	(2)  how many foreign national prisoners received financial assistance under the facilitated return scheme in the last 12 months;
	(3)  how many foreign national prisoners have received financial assistance under the facilitated return scheme since 1 October 2010;
	(4)  how much has been spent on the facilitated return scheme since 1 October 2010;
	(5)  how many foreign national prisoners who received financial assistance under the facilitated return scheme are known to have returned to the UK in each of the last five years;
	(6)  what mechanism she has put in place to prevent a beneficiary of the facilitated return scheme returning to the UK.

Damian Green: The Facilitated Return Scheme (FRS) accounted for approximately 30% of the 5,530 foreign national prisoner removals from the UK in 2009, and for around 50% of the 2,425 foreign national prisoner removals in quarters 1 and 2 of 2010. We are unable to advise at the current time the numbers who have received financial assistance and the amount spent on FRS since October 2010. Removal figures for quarter 3 of 2010 was published at the end of November, and for quarter four early in 2011. Once this information has been published the UK Border Agency will be able to confirm the number of foreign national prisoners removed under FRS and the average amount of assistance provided during those periods.
	Expenditure on FRS from inception in October 2006 to March 2009 was approximately £4.3 million. The cost of running the scheme for 2009-10 was £7.1 million (including £2.3 million of EU funding) and for 2010-11 is expected to be £9.7 million (including £2.7 million of EU funding). This is a slightly higher figure than previously reported for 2009-10 as the scheme has been successful in removing a larger number of foreign national prisoners than estimated.
	The Facilitated Return Scheme is a practical solution that not only saves the taxpayer money in the long run, but also means foreign criminals are removed as soon as possible, denying them the opportunity to re-offend or drag out the removals process. All foreign national prisoners are entered on our watch list when removed, so checks can be made to prevent those who are barred and those who have no right from re-entering the UK.
	Only in the most exceptional circumstances would an individual who had taken the FRS package be approved for re-entry to the UK, or for their exclusion to be lifted by the Home Secretary. These cases are considered very carefully and in line with policy. We are aware of two individuals removed under FRS who have later successfully applied to have their exclusion orders lifted, to allow them to return to the UK. We are also aware of a small number of individuals who have re-entered illegally having taken up FRS. In such cases we take urgent action to remove them from the UK. They would not be eligible to re-apply for the scheme.
	In order to make the scheme more affordable and bring it in line with other assisted voluntary, return programmes, it has been necessary to reduce the amount of assistance given to those who leave the country under FRS. As of 1 October 2010, those who apply for and are accepted onto the scheme will receive a reduced cash payment amount. We anticipate that high numbers of individuals will continue to take up the scheme and we will monitor the level of applications over the coming months.

Detention Centres: Christmas

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements have been made for residential and operational staffing of immigration removal centres over Christmas 2010 and the new year period.

Damian Green: holding answer 13 December 2010
	Immigration removal centres operate throughout the year, including Christmas 2010 and the new year period. Staffing will be maintained at the standard level for each centre to provide continuity of service and to ensure a safe environment for all persons detained.

Detention Centres: Christmas

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether Ministers in her Department have signed any authorisations for the continued detention of children at immigration removal centres beyond 28 days which provide for the detention of children during Christmas 2010;
	(2)  whether the UK Border Agency has made arrangements in respect of children detained at immigration removal centres during Christmas 2010;
	(3)  how many families she expects to be detained at immigration removal centres during Christmas 2010.

Damian Green: holding answer 13 December 2010
	Current Ministers have not authorised any detentions of children in immigration removal centres beyond 28 days. The Government are committed to ending the detention of children for immigration purposes and a review is currently under way to consider how this can be done in a way which protects the welfare of children and ensures that families with no right to be in the UK leave. The Government will make an announcement before the House rises for Christmas on our plans for doing this.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will take into account the conclusions of the British Council's report on Global value training - the value of UK education and training exports: an update, when considering changes to the rules governing student visas.

Damian Green: holding answer 13 December 2010
	This report focused on the value to the UK economy of UK education and training, but does not relate directly to the value of international students entering through Tier 4 of the points-based system. For example, it includes income generated for UK institutions by campuses overseas, and off-campus expenditure of business visitors to the UK who happen to be staying in university accommodation.

Global Peace and Unity Conference

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department monitored the presence of banned  (a) organisations and  (b) materials at the Global Peace and Unity conference of 23-24 October 2010.

Nick Herbert: The Home Office did not monitor the presence of banned organisations and materials at the Global Peace and Unity conference of 23-24 October 2010.

Human Trafficking

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had on international collaboration to combat human trafficking; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: The Government recognise the importance of international collaboration in tackling human trafficking.
	My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I met the UNHCR High Commissioner, Antonio Guterres, to discuss human trafficking. I also recently met the Afghan Minister for Refugees and Repatriation, Dr Jamaher Anwary, to discuss the issue of trafficking.
	The Government have focused their international effort through the European Union and other regional organisations such as the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe.

Immigration Controls: Higher Education

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visas to work in the UK have been granted to scientists wishing to take up employment at a UK university in each of the last three years.

Damian Green: holding answer 13 December 2010
	Information on visas that have been issued to applicants who intend to work (a) in a particular profession, or (b) for a particular employer or type of employer, is not available from the UK Border Agency's central records. The information requested could only be produced by checking individual records at disproportionate cost

Immigration: South East

Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 11 November 2010,  Official Report, column 456W, on immigration: South East, how many records remain open on the database to be dealt with by the Case Resolution Directorate under legacy rules.

Damian Green: When the asylum legacy cohort was announced in July 2006 by the former Home Secretary (John Reid), he stated that there were an estimated 400-450,000 paper and electronic records that required review. The cohort is not static, due to issues such as errors, duplicates and paper and dependant records that have not yet been entered on to our databases. It is therefore not possible to provide an accurate figure for the number of records that remain open.
	The chief executive of the UK Border Agency regularly updates the Home Affairs Select Committee on progress with this cohort on a regular basis. As reported in November 2010 the, Case Resolution Directorate had concluded 334,500 cases up to the end of September 2010.

Members: Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when her Department plans to respond to the letters of 10 August and 30 September 2010 from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay on her constituent Mr P. Ginn.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 28 October 2010
	I apologise for the delay in replying. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Security (Baroness Neville-Jones) replied on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary (Mrs May) on 7 December 2010.

National Extremism Tactical Co-ordination Unit

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding her Department provided to the National Extremism Tactical Co-ordination Unit in the last 12 months.

Nick Herbert: We do not disclose details of funding provided to the National Extremism Tactical Co-ordination Unit (NETCU) on security grounds.

Offences against Children: International Cooperation

Mary Macleod: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make representations to her international counterparts on international agreements on legislation against child pornography.

James Brokenshire: The UK strongly supports work to promote effective legislation against child pornography. We will work both bilaterally and multilaterally to promote international cooperation to tackle this crime, and will ensure that the excellent work, of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre and their international partners continues.

Police: Manpower

Edward Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) police officers,  (b) police community support officers and  (c) other staff are primarily assigned to work on (i) the Police National Database, (ii) the Police National Computer and (iii) the IMPACT programme.

Theresa May: holding answer 23 November 2010
	The project to deliver the Police National Database (PND) forms part of the National Policing Improvement Agency's (NPIA) IMPACT Programme. Within the NPIA there are 62 staff working on the IMPACT of whom 21 are police officers.
	There are no Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) assigned to this work within the NPIA. There are also 226 staff working in Police National Computer (PNC) Services within the NPIA. However none of these staff are police officers or PCSOs.
	At a local level, police forces will also have staff assigned to work on the IMPACT Programme and the PNC. However, this information is not held centrally.

Reoffenders: Dartford

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of those normally resident in Dartford constituency arrested had a previous conviction in each of the last five years.

Nick Herbert: Information is not collected centrally linking those arrested with previous convictions.

UK Border Agency: Trafficking

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effects of reductions in UK Border Agency staff in Liverpool on the Agency's ability to tackle people trafficking; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: The spending review settlement for the UK Border Agency will mean that we need to reduce our staff by about 5,200 to around 18,000 by 2015. We are still working through the detailed planning implications and will let our staff, partners and the public know as soon as the plans are clear.
	Deterring, disrupting and detecting people trafficking is a responsibility that we share with other law enforcement agencies, such as the police and Serious and Organised Crime Agency. The UK Border Agency continues to be committed to the strong regional and national partnerships that are central to our approach to combat this brutal form of organised crime.

Visas: Students

Angie Bray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has for the future of the student visa system.

Damian Green: On 7 December the Government launched a public consultation on reform of the student immigration system. A copy has been placed in the House Library.

Visas: Students

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many student visa applications from each country were  (a) accepted and  (b) rejected for study for (i) English language courses, (ii) foundation courses, (iii) undergraduate degrees, (iv) postgraduate taught degrees and (v) postgraduate research degrees in each of the last three years.

Damian Green: A table has been placed in the Library showing the number of student visas that were  (a) issued and  (b) refused for each nationality in each of the last three years. The UK Border Agency is unable to break the figures down into type of course or level of study from central records. This information could be produced only by checking individual records which would incur disproportionate cost.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Departmental Conferences

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his Department's annual budget for conferences was at  (a) 7 May 2010 and  (b) 7 December 2010.

Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has not allocated any specific budget for conferences in 2010-11.

Departmental Publications

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of his Department's expenditure on printing  (a) Command Papers,  (b) papers laid before Parliament by Act,  (c) consultation documents and  (d) other papers in each year since its inception.

Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change was created on 3 October 2008.
	The cost of each of these items could be determined only at disproportionate cost as transaction records do not separately identify these specific types of expenditure.

Downstream Oil Industry Forum

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  when he expects the report commissioned from the Downstream Oil Industry Forum to be completed; and if he will publish that report;
	(2)  what terms of reference he has issued to the Downstream Oil Industry Task Force; what the name is of each member of that Task Force; and how frequently it meets.

Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what terms of reference are for his Department's Downstream Oil Industry Task Force; what the name is of each member of the task force; and how frequently it meets;
	(2)  when he expects to receive the report commissioned from the Downstream Oil Industry Forum; and if he will publish that report.

Gregory Barker: The Downstream Oil Industry Forum is the main discussion forum for strategic engagement between the downstream oil sector and the Government. It seeks to meet on a six monthly basis and is chaired by DECC officials. Membership comprises representatives from: the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), the UK Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA), the Downstream Fuel Association (DFA), the Federation of Petroleum Suppliers (FPS), UKLPG (acting on behalf of Liquid Petroleum Gas distributors), the Tank Storage Association (TSA), RMI Petrol, representatives of the devolved administrations and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). Representatives of other organisations can be invited as necessary. Individual representatives from the member organisations may change depending on availability.
	Work has been conducted to examine the resilience of the Downstream Oil Industry by a task group of the DOIF; a study carried out by Wood Mackenzie on behalf of DECC on this topic has been completed and is available on DECC's internet site. Supplementary work on aspects of the Wood Mackenzie report has been conducted within DECC and a further study has been carried out by UKPIA looking at the UK's refining sector; this study can be obtained directly from UKPIA. I am currently considering the work conducted to date and fully support the DOIF's activity in relation to this important sector of the economy.

Environment Protection: Employment

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will estimate the number of green jobs in the UK economy.

Gregory Barker: Government-commissioned research indicates that, in 2008-09, employment in the UK Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services sector was approximately 910,000 and is projected to increase to over a million by the middle of the decade. This research is available online at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/Policies/business-sectors/low-carbon-business-opportunities/market-intelligence

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the likely effect on the UK oil refining industry of the introduction of Phase Three of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme;
	(2)  whether the introduction of benchmarks for Phase Three of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme will be phased; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what discussions  (a) he,  (b) Ministers in his Department and  (c) officials in his Department have held with officials of the European Commission since May 2010 on the likely effect on the UK oil industry of Phase Three of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Gregory Barker: My officials are in close contact with the European Commission and other member states about the implementation of Phase III of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). This includes discussing the rules to determine the amount of emission allowances to be freely allocated to installations (including off-shore oil and gas and the oil refining industry) which will be voted on later this week in the EU Climate Change Committee. The benchmarks will apply from 2013.
	My officials have undertaken assessment of the effects on all sectors from the introduction of Phase III of the EU ETS. The analysis can be seen in the April 2009 impact assessment 'Impact Assessment on the EU Climate and Energy package and the revised EU ETS Directive':
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/77_20090423091800_e_@@_euclimateenergypackage.pdf

Fuel Poverty: Walsall

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his most recent estimate is of the number of households living in fuel poverty in Walsall South constituency.

Gregory Barker: In 2006, the most recent year for which sub-regional figures are available, there were around 5,000 fuel poor households in the Walsall South constituency.

Green Deal

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Green Deal financing mechanism interest rates are conducive to high levels of household take-up; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: It is essential that Green Deal finance interest rates are as low as possible. The Department is therefore acting in three key ways. Firstly, we are progressing discussions with the finance community regarding appropriate financing solutions; and in particular, low interest investment from the capital markets. Secondly, we are designing secondary legislation so that risks to investors from default and cash flow interruption are minimised.
	Finally, we are taking steps to ensure that the Green Deal will operate at scale and thereby enable high-value, low cost financing solutions. Importantly, we will ensure that the energy company obligation supports the Green Deal. We are also taking foreshadowing powers through the new Energy Bill to ensure that by 2015, the Government are able-if necessary and appropriate-to require private landlords to improve the least energy efficient properties.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Affordable Housing: Construction

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will publish the modelling undertaken by his Department to calculate the number of new affordable homes to be funded through his proposed increase for rents for new social housing tenants.

Grant Shapps: We will be publishing our impact assessment on the affordable rent model early next year.

Anti-Semitism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department has taken to combat anti-Semitism since July 2010; what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of these steps; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Stunell: The Coalition Government will publish the three-year on response to the All Party Parliamentary Inquiry into Anti-Semitism on Wednesday December 15 which will highlight the effectiveness and steps we have taken to combat Anti-Semitism.

Community Land Trusts

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the task force on Community Land Trusts produced by Professor Carl Dayson.

Grant Shapps: This report was not commissioned by, or for, the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Councillors

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of councillors who sit on both district and county councils.

Bob Neill: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on this issue on 16 June 2010,  Official Report, column 447W.

Councillors: Business Interests

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has for a national register of councillors' interests.

Bob Neill: Our proposals for abolishing the Standards Board regime involve that in future, publicly available registers of members' interests are maintained locally by councils, reflecting that the accountability of councils and their members is to their local electorate. We are keen for this information to be published online in an open and standardised format.

Departmental Energy

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost was of  (a) electricity and  (b) gas supplied to his Department's offices at Eland House in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Bob Neill: The energy spend at DCLG's headquarter building, Eland House is shown in the table. The table shows the monthly cost for electricity and gas for the last 12 months, the figures are inclusive of VAT.
	
		
			  £ 
			   Electricity  Gas 
			 October 2009 37,563.68 1,640.96 
			 November 2009 36,438.21 5,044.02 
			 December 2009 37,117.40 9,458.31 
			 January 2010 40,019.86 16,451.42 
			 February 2010 36,795.55 10,864.31 
			 March 2010 39,745.01 8,605.00 
			 April 2010 35,310.98 3,861.04 
			 May 2010 36,173.36 2,571.99 
			 June 2010 37,114.48 1,838.68 
			 July 2010 39,076.46 1,971.02 
			 August 2010 34.342.47 1,623.89 
			 September 2010 31,613.27 1,954.35 
			 October 2010 30,149.62 2,397.39 
		
	
	The Department is committed to reducing the carbon emissions of its estate by 10% from May 2010 to May 2011. This will help reduce the cost of utility bills to the taxpayer.

Departmental Lobbying

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to his Department's press release of 5 August 2010, which arms' length bodies with his Department's area of responsibility have cancelled contracts for lobbying services.

Bob Neill: The Department has instructed its arm's length bodies to cease any contracts with public affairs consultancies.
	The Audit Commission gave notice to terminate its contract with Connect Public Affairs on 2 February 2010 following public controversy over its lobbying activity. Connect confirmed their contractual 28 day notice period.
	Both London and Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporations have confirmed that their contracts have been cancelled. London's contract with London Communications Agency is being allowed to expire on 31 January 2011 to avoid nugatory costs but no further activity is being undertaken under the terms of this contract.
	West Northants Development Corporation appointed Chelgate Ltd in November 2008. This contract was terminated in May 2010.
	The independent Housing Ombudsman Limited previously engaged APCO. The most recent contract completed in January 2010.
	The Tenant Services Authority also had a contract with APCO. The original contract expired in February 2009. A three-month extension with reduced services was then agreed for April to June 2009. No further contracts were entered into.
	Ordnance Survey had a contract with Mandate Communications. This contract with Mandate was terminated in May 2010.
	The Fire Service College used Four Communications in respect of a residential planning application. The contract ended when the college obtained planning consent on 2 June 2010.

Departmental Marketing

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department has spent on promotional materials since 6 May 2010.

Bob Neill: The Department has spent nothing on promotional materials since 6 May 2010.

Departmental Public Consultation

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on the citing of party political publications as evidence in consultation documents issued by his Department.

Bob Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government draws evidence from the widest possible range of sources in the preparation of consultation documents.
	I would note that the Conservative party's open source planning green paper is explicitly referenced in the coalition agreement as providing the guiding principles for the Government's planning reforms.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information his Department holds on plans for the level of its budget in 2010-11 made prior to May 2010.

Bob Neill: At pre-Budget report 2008, DCLG's planned budgets were reported as £6.0 billion capital and £4.6 billion resource.
	In the March Budget 2009, £144 million additional capital was allocated for the Housing Pledge and shortly afterwards a further £200 million capital was allocated to support the fiscal stimulus. The 2009 Budget also reported Public Value Programme resource savings of £100 million from DCLG. These changes were incorporated in budget plans set out in Annex C of the Department's Annual Report 2009, published in June 2009.
	At the pre-Budget report in December 2009, further resource savings were announced, to be made by 2012-13 (that is, in 2010-11 and 2011-12), as follows:
	Public Value Programme cross-Government savings of £5 billion, of which DCLG's contribution was announced as £500 million broken down as:
	£340 million largely for regeneration programmes, and;
	£160 million for smaller DCLG programmes.
	Operational Efficiency Programme cross-Government savings of £11 billion, but DCLG's contributions was not specified.
	At Budget in March 2010, further details on DCLG's contributions to the resource savings were announced, to be made by 2012-13, as follows:
	The Public Value Programme savings of £500 million were broken down further as:
	£300 million from rationalising Regional Development Agency regeneration spending and programmes;
	£40 million by concluding New Deal for Communities;
	£160 million further savings on smaller DCLG programmes, including £35 million from housing benefit costs and £25 million from ending smaller CLG-funded time-limited communities programmes.
	DCLG's contribution to the £11 billion Operational Efficiency Programme savings were announced as £200 million and broken down as follows:
	£130 million savings from back office, procurement and consultancy and marketing;
	£70 million savings from arm's length body rationalisation.
	Before May 2010, only £100 million of the total DCLG savings above had been announced as relating specifically to 2010-11 and these were incorporated into the budgets in the Annual Report 2009.
	The remainder of the savings, were not allocated to discrete financial years (as indicated above) but were to be made before 2012-13.
	Links to referenced documents:
	 PBR 2008, table B18, pg. 214
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100407010852/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/pbr08_completereport_1721.pdf
	 Budget 2009-Table 6.1. pg. 130
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100407010852/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/bud09_completereport_2520.pdf
	 Departmental Annual Report 2009
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/corporate/pdf/1281142.pdf
	 Pre-Budget report 2009-pgs. 108-110
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100407010852/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/pbr09_completereport.pdf
	 Budget 2010-pg. 93
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100407010852/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/budget2010_complete.pdf
	 DCLG Budget announcement of £200 million OEP savings
	http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100513032259/http://communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1516900

EU Law

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many EU directives are pending transposition into domestic legislation by his Department; and what estimate he has made of the cost of each such transposition.

Bob Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government currently has one EU directive pending transposition. That EU directive is:
	Directive 2010/31 /EU on the energy performance of buildings.
	It is estimated that it will cost £2.5 million to transpose this directive into domestic legislation.

Fire Services

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the likely change in the number of non-firefighter fire service posts to 2015;
	(2)  whether he has issued recent guidance on the number of fire stations to be operational in each fire authority area;
	(3)  whether he has issued recent guidance on the number of fire appliances necessary to be available in each fire authority area;
	(4)  whether he has made a recent estimate of the number of fire fighters necessary to provide adequate emergency fire and rescue cover.

Bob Neill: Decisions on operational issues such as fire station, fire appliance and firefighter numbers, and associated issues such as non-firefighter posts, are taken by individual fire and rescue authorities as part of the integrated risk management planning process.
	The Government are committed to enabling local authorities and local communities to make appropriate decisions at the local level. Fire and rescue authorities are required by the fire and rescue service national framework to have in place and maintain an integrated risk management plan (IRMP) which reflects local need and sets out plans to tackle effectively both existing and potential risks to communities. Each fire and rescue authority's IRMP enables that individual authority to decide how best to provide fire and rescue-related services, including prevention and protection as well as response, with resources being allocated on the basis of the evaluation of risk and where the risks are greatest.
	Local requirements are thus determined by local people according to local circumstances.
	For those reasons, no formal estimate of firefighter and non-firefighter staffing levels required by fire and rescue services has been made by central Government, and no recent guidance has been issued by central Government on the numbers of fire appliances and firefighters required in each fire and rescue authority area.
	I also refer the hon. Member to my letter to him of 6 December 2010 about the comprehensive spending review, a copy of which I placed in the Library of the House.

Government Offices for the Regions: Gallup

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Government Offices in each region have paid to Gallup in the last 36 months; and what the purpose was of each item of expenditure.

Greg Clark: There have been no payments to Gallup from Government office network resources in the last 36 months. There has however, been one payment to Gallup of £834.24 through the Government office for the south-east. This was made from programme funds on behalf of my Department. This expenditure covered the travel costs of Dalia Mogahed, the executive director of the Gallup Centre for Muslim Studies, who provided a key note speech at a Preventing Violent Extremism conference hosted in the south-east.

Homelessness: Rural Areas

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many registered homeless people there are in rural areas in each region of England; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce homelessness in rural areas.

Grant Shapps: I have placed in the Library of the House a table setting out, for local authorities by rural classification in each statistical region, the number of households accepted as owed a main homelessness duty, the number of households in temporary accommodation, and levels of rough sleeping.
	This Government are committed to tackling and preventing homelessness. We have protected Homelessness Grant funding, with £400 million over the spending review period. This will be made available to local authorities and the voluntary sector to support their work to tackle homelessness. We have made an additional £190 million available for discretionary housing payments and other forms of practical support alongside the Government's package of welfare reform measures. We have minimised reductions to the Supporting People programme with £6.5 billion investment secured over the next four years. I have also established a cross-Government working group on homelessness bringing together Ministers from eight Government Departments to address the complex causes of homelessness and rough sleeping.

Housing Market

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to encourage house price growth in the next five years.

Grant Shapps: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 13 December 2010,  Official Report, column 483W.

Housing Market

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects annual house price growth to return to positive figures.

Grant Shapps: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not publish housing market forecasts.
	According to the recent house price forecasts produced by the new independent Office of Budget Responsibility for the 'Economic and fiscal outlook' report this autumn, and the latest average of the HM Treasury's independent forecasts, house prices are expected to rise from 2012 onwards.
	Details can be found at:
	http://budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk/econ-fiscal-outlook.html
	http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/quarterlybulletin/qb090203.pdf

Housing: Regeneration

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects to announce his plans for the future of the Housing Market Renewal Grant.

Grant Shapps: Following the spending review announcement, the Housing Market Renewal Fund will cease to be run as currently structured in 2010-11. Post March 2011 it will be for local authorities to decide whether to continue Housing Market Renewal partnerships and bid for funding to allow them to take forward market renewal projects, and to consider how new incentive schemes such as the New Homes Bonus could benefit their areas.
	I also refer the right hon. Member to my letter on the spending review's settlement for housing of 20 October 2010, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

Local Government Finance

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government who will conduct his Department's review of the local government grants system.

Bob Neill: The local government resource review will consider proposals to introduce greater incentives for local authorities to promote economic growth by allowing them to retain locally raised business rates, and introduce new powers to enable local authorities to carry out tax increment financing. The review will be carried out by my Department.

Local Government: Bank Services

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what provision he has made for the capitalisation of local authority debt arising from lost deposits in Icelandic banks over the next 20 years.

Bob Neill: Local authorities have been able to apply this year to capitalise impairment charges (excluding interest) in respect of potential losses of investments in Icelandic banks, for assessment against the exceptional financial difficulties criteria in the published guidance. The Department intends to notify applicant authorities of its decisions shortly.

Multiple Occupation: Licensing

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2010,  Official Report, column 693W, on multiple occupation: licensing, if he will take steps to collect centrally figures for licensed houses in multiple occupation in each local authority area for the purpose of assisting the monitoring of the effectiveness of legislation in addressing sub-standard accommodation.

Andrew Stunell: The collection of data centrally by DCLG on the register of licensed houses of multiple occupation has been suspended and its continued collection is subject to an internal review of all DCLG statistical data collections as part of the new Government's goal of reducing the burdens of data reporting requirements on local government. The Department's statistics plan will be subject to a public consultation in early 2011. Individual local authorities are required to maintain a register of houses of multiple occupation licensable in their area.

Supporting People Programme: Nottinghamshire

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has had discussions with Nottinghamshire county council on the proposed reduction in Supporting People programme funding in the spending review period.

Andrew Stunell: The Government are committed to protecting the most vulnerable in our society and, in taking difficult decisions to reduce the deficit, has limited reductions in Supporting People funding. We have secured investment of £6.5 billion for the Supporting People programme over the next four years. Local areas will continue to take decisions informed by local need in commissioning housing-related support services and will have increased flexibility in meeting that need, as the Supporting People funding is included in the general formula grant from April 2011.
	Officials within my Department have spoken with Nottinghamshire county council to clarify the proposed reductions to the Supporting People programme and the timeframe within which these administrative savings will take place.

Travellers: Children

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of Travelling families with children who have no fixed abode.

Andrew Stunell: The July 2010 caravan count showed there were 3,636 caravans which have no authorised place to stop. The caravan count does not capture the detail of family type and so specific figures for Traveller families with children are not available.

Travellers: Children

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Travelling families with children were recorded as having a fixed residence in each year since 2001.

Andrew Stunell: The twice yearly caravan count does not capture the detail of family type and so specific figures for Traveller families with children are not available. The caravan count shows the following figures of authorised Traveller caravans in England since 2001:
	
		
			  Period of count  Caravans on socially rented sites  Caravans on authorised private sites 
			 January 2001 6,336 4,564 
			 July 2001 6,201 4,255 
			 January 2002 6,178 4,660 
			 July 2002 6,145 4,571 
			 January 2003 6,138 4,806 
			 July 2003 6,042 4,684 
			 January 2004 5,848 4,890 
			 July 2004 5,976 4,904 
			 January 2005 6,427 5,502 
			 July 2005 6,454 5,371 
			 January 2006 6,636 5,838 
			 July 2006 6,560 5,815 
			 January 2007 6,564 6,509 
			 July 2007 6,605 6,552 
			 January 2008 6,696 7,351 
			 July 2008 6,553 7,083 
			 January 2009 6,785 7,400 
			 July 2009 6,603 7,105 
			 January 2010 6,870 7,866 
			 July 2010 6,862 7,648

UN Food and Agricultural Organisation

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what information his Department holds on the level of compliance of local authorities with the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation's criteria for sourcing sustainable timber;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the compliance of  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) its non-departmental public bodies with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's criteria for sourcing sustainable timber.

Bob Neill: The Department does not hold such information.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Apprentices

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps he has taken to promote apprenticeship schemes; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: This Government are committed to increasing the number of apprenticeships. In the comprehensive spending review, we announced that we will increase investment in adult apprenticeships by up to £250 million during this Parliament. By 2014-15 financial year we will have in place sufficient funding for 75,000 more adult apprenticeships places than under the previous Government's plans.
	In this current public expenditure climate we must realise that expanding and improving the apprenticeship programme depends in no small measure on our ability to persuade a larger and more diverse range of businesses to employ apprentices. We are therefore reducing bureaucracy making the system simpler for employers and are considering how we might better support employers through improved funding arrangements. In November, we joined farces with business leaders and the National Apprenticeships Service (NAS) to launch a new campaign to urge more employers to take on apprenticeships.
	In February 2011 the National Apprenticeship Service will be co-ordinating National Apprenticeship Week which will see apprentices, employers, and providers showcase the benefits of apprenticeship programmes and the value apprentices bring to organisations.

Apprentices

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with local authorities on their role in promoting apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: The most recent discussions with local authority representatives were through our Skills for Sustainable Growth Strategy consultation events. We are fully aware of local authorities' important role in promoting apprenticeships.
	The executive chair and chief operating officer of the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) have also visited a number of local authorities to discuss apprenticeships issues; including exploring opportunities for representatives from local authorities to be involved in apprenticeship week from 7-11 February 2011.
	Many local authorities are already active in encouraging employers in their areas to employ apprentices, in offering apprenticeships to their own new and existing staff, and in using procurement as a means of encouraging their suppliers to recruit apprentices.

Apprentices

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many higher apprenticeship  (a) starts and  (b) completions there were in the last 12 months.

John Hayes: The following table shows the number of higher level apprenticeship programme/framework starts and achievements in England for 2009/10, based on information for the year to date.
	
		
			  Apprenticeship programme/framework starts and achievements, 2009/10 
			   2009/10 (provisional) 
			   Starts  Achievements 
			 Higher level apprenticeship (level 4 or higher) 1,500 200 
			  Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.  Source: Individualised Learner Record 
		
	
	This Government are committed to increasing the number of apprenticeships, in particular, advanced and higher apprenticeships. British employers currently face a workforce with insufficient skills at intermediate technician and associate professional level, critical to many industries of the future. Expanding level 3 and level 4 apprenticeships will make a significant contribution to remedying the shortage of people with this level of qualification.
	Information on the number of apprenticeship starts is published in a quarterly statistical first release (SFR). The latest SFR was published on 16 November 2010
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/statistics/statisticalfirstrelease/sfr_current

Apprentices

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprentices he expects there to be in  (a) 2010 and  (b) each year to 2015.

John Hayes: There were 273,900 Apprenticeship programme starts in 2009/10 for all ages, based on information for the year to date.
	In support of the coalition Government's principle of greater freedom, "Skills for Sustainable Growth and Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth" set out the abolition of central targets and increased freedom and flexibility for further education colleges and training organisations to respond effectively to the needs of employers, learners and their communities. It will be for individual colleges and training organisations, working directly with their local partners, to determine the offer that best meets the needs of their communities.
	From the 2011/12 academic year, there will be a single Adult Skills Budget, with earmarked delivery for apprenticeships. As part of its allocations process later this year, the Skills Funding Agency will set out a minimum expectation of apprenticeships delivery. Further education colleges and training organisations will be able to use their single Adult Skills Budget allocation to expand apprenticeships. However, any diversion of funding away from apprenticeships is to be agreed with the Agency.
	By the end of the spending review period we will be spending up to £250 million more than was provided under the previous Government. It means we can carry forward the additional 50,000 adult apprenticeship places announced for 2010-11 into future years and add an extra 25,000 by 2014-15. That will take us to 75,000 more places than under the last Government.
	The figures above are for adult apprenticeships, that is people aged 19 and above. Funding for 16 to 18-year-old apprenticeships is provided by the Department for Education. They will publish information on funding and learner numbers for 16 to 18-year-old apprenticeships in their annual funding statement shortly.

Business: Regulation

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has assessed for benchmarking purposes the burden of regulation on each sector of the economy; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: The Government recently announced the Growth Review "The path to strong, sustainable and balanced growth". Although there has not been a specific benchmarking exercise to assess the burden of regulation on each sector of the economy, in the first stages of the Growth Review, departments will be looking at how they can remove the barriers to growth, including regulatory barriers, in six priority sectors: construction, retail, health and life sciences, professional and business services, manufacturing and digital and creative industries. The Government have also introduced a 'one-in, one-out' rule to cut red tape and ensure that no new regulation with a net cost to business is brought in without other regulation being cut by an equal amount.

Departmental Lobbying

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how much his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent from the public purse on influencing public policy through  (a) employing external (i) public affairs companies, (ii) strategic consultancies and (iii) corporate communications firms,  (b) external marketing and  (c) other activities in each year since its inception;
	(2)  which of his Department's non-departmental public bodies have undertaken activities to influence public policy for which they engaged  (a) public affairs and  (b) public relations consultants in each year since its inception; and at what monetary cost in each such year.

Edward Davey: Information for non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	All expenditure has to be incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
	I have approached the chief executives of the Insolvency Service, Companies House, the National Measurement Office, the Intellectual Property Office and the Skills Funding Agency and they will respond to my hon. Friend directly.
	 Letter from Peter Mason, dated 10 December 2010:
	I am responding in respect of the National Measurement Office (NMO) to your Parliamentary Question tabled 9 November 2010, asking the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent from the public purse on influencing public policy through a) employing external (i) public affairs companies, (ii) strategic consultancies and (iii) corporate communications firms, (b) external marketing and (c) other activities in each year since its inception.
	As an Executive Agency operating within a Government Department, NMO does not spend, and has not spent, any money influencing public policy. In our capacity as advisors to Ministers on various policy areas, including for instance policy on the National Measurement System and on Weights and Measures legislation, we contribute to internal policy making within Government, but we do not use external public affairs companies, strategic consultancies or corporate communications, nor external marketing, for these purposes.
	 Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 7 December 2010:
	I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled 9 November 2010, UIN 23769 to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. Please accept my apologies for the delay in replying to you.
	Companies House has not spent any money from the public purse on influencing public policy.
	 Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 11 November 2010:
	The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has asked me to reply to your question how much his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent from the public purse on influencing public policy through (a) employing external (i) public affairs companies, (ii) strategic consultancies and (iii) corporate communications firms, (b) external marketing and (c) other activities in each year since its inception.
	The Insolvency Service Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has not engaged in any of the activities listed and therefore, the amount spent under each category is nil.
	 Letter from Geoff Russell, dated 11 November 2010:
	I refer to your parliamentary question tabled on 9 November to the Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills requesting to know how much his departments, agencies and non-departmental public bodies have spent from the public purse on influencing public policy through a number of channels.
	The Skills Funding Agency (the Agency) is an agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and I confirm that the Agency has not spent any monies from the public purse on influencing public policy since its inception.
	 Letter from John Alty, dated 13 December 2010:
	I am responding in respect of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 09/11/2010, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The Intellectual Property Office (IPO), an operating name of the Patent Office, has spent no money on influencing public policy since its inception.

Exports

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many export orders were won by British businesses as a result of trade missions undertaken since May 2010; what the monetary value was of each such order; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: Through its Performance and Impact Monitoring Survey (PIMS), UKTI tracks the value of benefits attributed by British businesses to their participation in UKTI supported trade missions. The benefits are calculated by using independently administered surveys of some 4,000 customers across the full range of UKTI trade services each year. Results are published quarterly on the UKTI website at:
	www.ukti.gov.uk
	For trade missions undertaken between 1 April 2010 and 30 June 2010 results will be available in January 2011. Over the past two years, PIMS results show mean benefit per business participating in supported outward missions ranging between £101,000 and £285,000, measured as additional profit attributed to business gained as a result of their participation in UKTI supported trade missions(1).
	UKTI does not collect data on the value of individual orders won by businesses using its services, as these are a private commercial matter for the companies concerned.
	(1) UK Trade and Investment Performance and Impact Monitoring Survey (PIMS) PIMS 16-19 Report (Part 2) Table C.2.2.

Further Education: Standards

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many further education colleges Ofsted rated as  (a) outstanding,  (b) good,  (c) satisfactory and  (d) failing in the last 12 months.

John Hayes: This is a matter for Ofsted. Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of her response will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Further Education: Teachers

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what qualifications are required to teach in a further education college; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: All new further education teachers appointed from 1 September 2007 are required to hold or acquire within a specified period of time the following qualifications:
	(a) a 'Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector' (PTLLS) award (or its equivalent), which is a minimum threshold licence to teach for all who have an element of teaching in their role, irrespective of job title; and
	(b) a Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector at minimum level 5 (or its equivalent) leading to Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status for those in a full teaching role; or
	(c) a Certificate in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector at level 3 or 4 (or its equivalent), leading to Associate Teacher Learning and Skills (ATLS) status for those in an associate teaching role, (ie a role that carries significantly less than the full range of teaching responsibilities carried out in a full teaching role).

Higher Education: Finance

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect on the economy in the Brighton and Hove area of the planned reduction in teaching funding to the university sector; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: Our reforms to higher education will shift the balance of public funds for teaching from direct grant to institutions to funding that follows the choices made by individual students. This will provide strong incentives for institutions to focus on providing high quality teaching as efficiently as possible. Over time, popular and successful institutions will be able to grow and we expect new providers to enter the sector providing they can offer teaching to the high standards students will expect. We do not expect the overall income of the sector to reduce and we expect improved teaching quality and better informed students to have a positive impact on the economy. We do not have the data in order to make an assessment at the local level of the effect of the reforms in any particular area, as that will depend on the decisions taken by each individual institution in response to the new funding regime.

Higher Education: Student Numbers

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many young people from each London borough entered  (a) university and  (b) a Russell Group university in the last four years.

David Willetts: The latest available information from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) is shown in the table. Figures for London boroughs are not available, therefore local authority data has been provided as an alternative. Figures for the 2009/10 academic year will be available in January 2011. Entrants to Higher Education courses at Further Education Colleges are not included.
	
		
			  Young( 1)  Undergraduate e ntrants from London local authorities UK higher education institutions: Academic years 2005/06 to 2008/09 
			   Entrants to UK higher education institutions  of which: entrants to Russell Group institutions 
			  Local Authority  2005/06  2006/07  2007/08  2008/09  2005/06  2006/07  2007/08  2008/09 
			 City of London 15 30 20 25 5 10 5 10 
			 Camden 1,025 965 1,005 1,120 285 265 255 315 
			 Greenwich 995 1,125 1,225 1,375 130 150 150 180 
			 Hackney 1,105 1,135 1,135 1,295 135 115 125 135 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 750 725 770 865 220 205 185 245 
			 Islington 870 865 895 950 170 155 205 185 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 710 715 790 750 250 300 290 285 
			 Lambeth 1,335 1,350 1,395 1,585 250 240 245 295 
			 Lewisham 1,310 1,380 1,470 1,670 215 210 205 250 
			 Southwark 1,280 1,280 1,415 1,520 260 215 220 265 
			 Tower Hamlets 1,075 1,105 1,145 1,370 80 75 80 85 
			 Wandsworth 1,225 1,175 1,320 1,355 325 320 405 405 
			 Westminster 880 900 910 975 250 260 270 265 
			 Barking and Dagenham 650 655 755 920 55 50 60 80 
			 Barnet 2,635 2,635 2,710 2,715 900 855 915 880 
			 Bexley 1,060 1,130 1,185 1,300 150 155 190 210 
			 Brent 2,145 2,145 2,175 2,285 425 355 410 410 
			 Bromley 1,785 1,790 1,850 2,000 460 450 445 465 
			 Croydon 2,075 2,115 2,295 2,495 425 390 465 440 
			 Ealing 2,290 2,335 2,255 2,430 435 435 455 475 
			 Enfield 1,955 1,975 1,990 2,205 310 335 335 350 
			 Haringey 1,370 1,360 1,505 1,545 280 265 290 295 
			 Harrow 2,030 2,050 2,240 2,270 545 575 640 610 
			 Havering 1,015 1,010 1,105 1,205 135 135 160 130 
			 Hillingdon 1,475 1,480 1,535 1,690 240 310 280 265 
			 Hounslow 1,455 1,405 1,480 1,590 255 245 255 295 
			 Kingston upon Thames 1,135 1,060 1,085 1,095 295 300 280 310 
			 Merton 1,075 1,060 1,150 1,225 280 245 295 305 
			 Newham 1,790 1,910 1,990 2,175 145 135 140 165 
			 Redbridge 2,055 2,215 2,175 2,395 365 385 395 400 
			 Richmond upon Thames 1,260 1,155 1,295 1,275 460 410 460 460 
			 Sutton 985 1,060 1,090 1,155 220 240 245 255 
			 Waltham Forest 1,330 1,445 1,485 1,555 125 160 140 150 
			 Missing(2) 70 130 35 30 10 0 0 5 
			 Total 44,215 44,865 46,880 50,415 9,100 8,960 9,510 9,865 
			 (1) Covers entrants aged under 21 (2) Covers entrants whose local authority was not established due to missing or invalid postcode information  Note:  Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded to the nearest five.  Source:  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Insolvency

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to encourage greater transparency in the insolvency sector.

Edward Davey: The Office of Fair Trading recently undertook a review into the corporate insolvency market, which was published on 24 June 2010. This included a number of recommendations, in particular related to complaints processes and the structure of regulation of Insolvency practitioners. The Government are also considering the responses to a consultation on improving transparency in pre-packaged administrations.
	We expect to publish the Government's responses to both the OFT report and the pre-pack consultation shortly.
	We have also recently issued a call for evidence in relation to the regime for personal insolvency.
	As I stated in a previous answer, changes were recently made to the procedural insolvency rules in England and Wales in April to require insolvency practitioners to provide more information to creditors on the progress of insolvency cases, in particular in relation to remuneration and other expenses incurred. Additionally, creditors have been given new rights to request further information from the office-holder on the remuneration and expenses shown in the progress reports that they are sent.

Insolvency

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how long on average it took for an insolvency case to be settled in the latest period for which figures are available.

Edward Davey: The Insolvency Service does not record this information and I can add nothing further to the reply I gave on 8 September,  Official Report, column 525W.

Insolvency: Fees and Charges

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department plans to set a cap on the fees charged by insolvency practitioners.

Edward Davey: We currently have no plans to introduce legislation to cap the level of fees charged by insolvency practitioners. Power to set such fees rests with the creditors or the court.
	The Office of Fair Trading recently undertook a review into the corporate insolvency market, which was published on 24 June 2010. It recommended that the complaints process should be extended to include complaints over fees charged by insolvency practitioners. We expect to publish the Government's response to this report shortly.

Local Enterprise Agencies

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding from each source he expects to be available to each proposed local enterprise partnership in each year of the spending review period.

Mark Prisk: No central Government spending has been allocated specifically to fund the activities of local enterprise partnerships. As set out in the White Paper on local growth, local enterprise partnerships will be expected to fund their own day-to-day running costs and will also want to consider how they can obtain the best value for public money by leveraging in private sector investment. Local enterprise partnerships and proposed partnerships may also wish to submit bids to the Regional Growth Fund or European Funding. It is for local authorities to decide how much of their discretionary spending they allocate to local enterprise partnerships.

Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what responsibilities he has in respect of the supply chain for new nuclear facilities in the UK.

Mark Prisk: This Department, working alongside the Department of Energy and Climate Change, focuses on assisting business in being able to maximise their opportunities in the global and domestic civil nuclear market. Specifically this is supported by:
	Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre ( N-AMRC);
	Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS)
	SC@ nuclear/Nuclear Industry Association (NIA)
	Export support through UK Trade and Investment
	Engagement with the utility and reactor design companies on industrial opportunities.

Overseas Students

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which 15 countries outside the EU have the highest number of nationals studying in further and higher education institutions in the UK.

David Willetts: The information is as follows:
	Table 1 covers UK higher education institutions and shows the latest available information from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Domicile has been used as opposed to nationality as this is a more widely used and reliable method of measuring non-EU students.
	Table 2 covers English further education colleges and shows further education participation figures by country of domicile for 2008/09, the latest year for which full year data is available. Information on the nationality of learners in further education is not available. For both further education and higher education figures for the 2009/10 academic year will be available in January 2011.
	
		
			  Table 1: 15 Non-EU countries ranked by highest number of enrolments( 1) . UK higher education institutions. Academic year 2008/09 
			  Non-EU country  Enrolments 
			 China 47,035 
			 India 34,065 
			 Nigeria 14,380 
			 United States 14,345 
			 Malaysia 12,695 
			 Pakistan 9,610 
			 Hong Kong 9,600 
			 Canada 5,350 
			 Taiwan 5,235 
			 Saudi Arabia 5,205 
			 Thailand 4,675 
			 South Korea 4,275 
			 Japan 3,870 
			 Sri Lanka 3,555 
			 Bangladesh 3,490 
			 (1) Covers enrolments to all levels and modes of study.  Note: Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded to the nearest five.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: 15 Non-EU countries ranked by highest learner responsive participation in further education institutions. Academic year 2008/09 
			  Non-EU country  Participation 
			 Pakistan 1,000 
			 Iran 600 
			 Afghanistan 500 
			 Iraq 400 
			 Bangladesh 400 
			 India 400 
			 China 300 
			 Eritrea 300 
			 Somalia 300 
			 Nepal 300 
			 Brazil 200 
			 Thailand 200 
			 Zimbabwe 200 
			 Nigeria 200 
			 Turkey 200 
			  Notes: 1. Figures include government-funded learners only, funded by the Skills Funding Agency/Young Person's Learning Agency. 2. All figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred. 3. Figures include Learner Responsive funding stream only.  Source: Individualised Learner Record

Overseas Students

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which 25 universities have the highest number of students from outside the EU.

David Willetts: The latest available information from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) is shown in the table. Figures for the 2009/10 academic year will be available in January 2011.
	
		
			  25 UK higher education institutions ranked by highest number of non-EU domiciled enrolments( 1) . Academic year 2008/09 
			  UK higher education institutions  Enrolments 
			 University of Manchester 6,845 
			 University of Nottingham 6,145 
			 University of Warwick 5,005 
			 University of Northumbria at Newcastle 4,875 
			 London School of Economics and Political Science 4,745 
			 University College London 4,740 
			 University of Greenwich 4,635 
			 University of Leeds 4,510 
			 University of Birmingham 4,295 
			 University of Sheffield 4,200 
			 University of Oxford 4,140 
			 University of the Arts, London 3,915 
			 University of Hertfordshire 3,780 
			 University of East London 3,715 
			 Sheffield Hallam University 3,650 
			 University of Bedfordshire 3,555 
			 University of Cambridge 3,535 
			 London Metropolitan University 3,520 
			 Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine 3,505 
			 The City University 3,485 
			 Cardiff University 3,485 
			 University of Edinburgh 3,390 
			 Middlesex University 3,350 
			 University of Westminster 3,335 
			 University of Sunderland 3,120 
			 (1) Covers enrolments to all levels and modes of study.  Note: Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded to the nearest five.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Overseas Students

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many overseas students are studying for  (a) undergraduate degrees and  (b) postgraduate degrees in (i) a science subject, (ii) medicine, (iii) dentistry, (iv) nursing, (v) social care, (vi) architecture, (vii) a social science subject, (viii) an arts and humanities subject and (ix) a modern foreign language in England.

David Willetts: The numbers of overseas (non-European Union) students enrolled on undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses at English higher education institutions are shown by subject of study in the table. Figures are provided for the 2008/09 academic year. Information for the 2009/10 academic year will become available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency in January 2011.
	
		
			  Undergraduate and postgraduate overseas student enrolments( 1)  English higher education institutions-Academic year 2008/09 
			   Enrolments 
			  Subject area  Undergraduate  Postgraduate 
			 Medicine and dentistry 2,440 2,680 
			  Of which:   
			 Medicine 2,230 2,215 
			 Dentistry 210 340 
			
			 Subjects allied to medicine 5,815 4,770 
			  Of which:   
			 Nursing 2,385 440 
			 Biological sciences 3,355 4,155 
			 Veterinary science 115 60 
			 Agriculture and related subjects 405 585 
			 Physical sciences 2,030 3,505 
			 Mathematical sciences 2,710 1,300 
			 Computer science 4,700 10,330 
			 Engineering and technology 14,350 15,460 
			 Architecture, building and planning 2,150 2,465 
			  Of which:   
			 Architecture 1,235 770 
			 Total science 38,065 45,310 
			
			 Social studies 8,070 10,085 
			  Of which:   
			 Social work(2) 360 290 
			 Law 5,800 5,095 
			 Business and administrative studies 25,775 37,945 
			 Mass communications and documentation 1,640 2,090 
			 Languages 5,890 3,660 
			
			  Of which:   
			 Modern Foreign Languages(3) 1,510 1,005 
			 Historical and philosophical studies 1,070 2,370 
			 Creative arts and design 6,015 3,720 
			 Education 1,775 5,125 
			 Combined 2,325 70 
			
			 Total Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts 58,365 70,165 
			 All subjects 96,430 115,470 
			 (1) Covers full-time and part-time overseas students of all ages domiciled outside of the European Union. (2) Social care is not listed as a principal subject on the HESA student record. Social work is provided as an alternative in the table. (3) Covers the following principal subjects: French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Scandinavian, Russian and East European and European studies and Other European languages. Chinese, Japanese, South Asian, Other Asian, African and Modern Middle Eastern studies and others in Eastern, Asiatic, African, American and Australasian studies.  Note: Figures are on a HESA standard registration population basis and are rounded to the nearest five, so components may not sum to totals.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record

Science: Females

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what  (a) measures and  (b) funding he plans to provide to support women to enter the science, engineering and technology sectors during the spending review period; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: Decisions regarding measures and funding to support women to enter the science, engineering and technology sectors will be made as part of the detailed allocations process, following the spending review settlement on 20 October 2010. Announcements regarding these decisions will be made as they emerge.
	However, the proposed changes to student funding mean that women taking out time to have a family will not repay their graduate contribution until they are earning £21,000, and are more likely to benefit from any outstanding graduate contribution being written off after 30 years. Additionally, 40% of women will contribute less to the cost of their higher education under our proposals, than under the current system.
	During 2010, the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), has commissioned nine regional STEM support centres, making best use of existing structures (at a cost of £1.35 million), and has set out a number of priority themes for regional provider-led activity. One of these is Equality and Diversity, and addressing under-representation across STEM. LSIS is also pleased to confirm that a significant proportion of those leading on STEM activity are female.
	As a result LSIS has funded a number of projects to support this priority area:
	1. Careers guide: LSIS is working with the Centre for Science Education at Sheffield Hallam University to support careers guidance which will impact on the recruitment of women into STEM subjects.
	2. During 2010, bursaries of £10,000 have been awarded to three college based projects which focus specifically on issues of under-representation and progression to STEM study in FE.
	3. It is LSIS's intention to continue targeting bursaries for this area in 2011, in line with the priorities we have identified for our STEM activity.
	In addition, LSIS has commissioned research into the equality agenda and STEM and, in particular, the low take up and progression of under-represented groups, including women, into science, technology and engineering.

Science: Females

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of gender equality in the workforce in the science, engineering and technology sectors; what assessment he has made of the requirement for further action by the Government to achieve such equality; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The Department draws on a wealth of information and expertise on the subject of equality. This includes reports published by the National Academies and learned societies, EngineeringUK and technology institutions, evidence and analysis from the Research Councils, and statistical information from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), and many other sources.
	This Department's approach to diversity, including gender equality, will be developed as part of the detailed budget allocations process, following the spending review settlement on 20 October 2010. Announcements concerning our approach will be made in the light of the relevant decisions.

Sheffield Forgemasters

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on Sheffield Forgemasters since May 2010.

Mark Prisk: Sheffield Forgemasters was discussed as appropriate with ministerial colleagues prior to the collective Government decision to not proceed with the loan to the company on grounds of affordability.
	The withdrawal of the loan is no reflection on the company, the project, its management or staff or of our commitment to taking forward the facilitative actions to remove unnecessary barriers to new nuclear in the UK. In these difficult times, tough decisions have had to be made across Government. This was just such a decision.

Skylon Spaceplane

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the potential viability of the Skylon Spaceplane; what assessment he has made of his merits of Government support for that project; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The European Space Agency is funding proof of concept work for Skylon from UK contributions. This work is focusing on demonstrating the viability of the advanced British engine technology that would underpin the project. Initial work will be completed in mid 2011 and if the trial is successful, we will work with industry to consider next steps.

Students: Fees and Charges

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to monitor the impact of higher undergraduate fees on take up of postgraduate provision; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The Government will monitor participation in postgraduate study to identify whether changes to the undergraduate funding and finance system have any effect on entry to postgraduate courses.
	The Government are committed to Britain being a world leading place to do research. The science and research budget will be maintained in cash terms over the spending review period with resource spending of £4.6 billion a year by 2014/15. We will ring-fence that budget to ensure continuity of investment in science and research.

Students: Fees and Charges

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the impact of higher fees at undergraduate level on take up of postgraduate study.

David Willetts: Lord Browne did not recommend any changes to the funding of postgraduate education but did recommend that participation in postgraduate study should be monitored to identify whether changes to the undergraduate funding and finance system have any effect on entry to postgraduate courses. We have committed to do so.

Students: Fees and Charges

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the Barnett consequentials for Scotland arising from the proposed change in the level of tuition fees in 2012-13;
	(2)  whether any Barnett consequentials will arise for Scotland as a result of implementation of proposed changes to arrangements for tuition fees.

David Willetts: Adjustments in the block grant totals for the Devolved Administrations through the "Barnett formula" are calculated on the basis of the overall change in departmental expenditure limits rather than any particular programmes within them. We have consistently indicated that each Devolved Administration will need to make its own decisions about how to fund higher education and the other services for which it is responsible within the overall total available to it.

Students: Loans

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the debt owed to the Student Loan Company by residents of the London borough of Bexley who are in higher education in the academic year 2010-11.

David Willetts: The Department does not have estimates of student loan debt at local authority level for academic year 2010/11. Information cannot be provided for academic year 2010/11 as the application cycle for student support is ongoing. Students can apply for support up to nine months after the start of the academic year. Figures on the student loan debt position at the end of financial year 2010-11 are expected to be published at national level in June 2011. Information on loans paid during the academic year 2010/11 are expected to be published in November 2011 at national level.

Technology Strategy Board

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the future work of the Technology Strategy Board; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: As set out in this Department's recently published Blueprint for Technology and the Growth Review, the Government are making the Technology Strategy Board the prime channel through which the Government will incentivise business-led technology innovation and are providing it with over £200 million to establish a network of technology and innovation centres to help commercialise new and emerging technologies.

Trade: Developing Countries

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps he has taken to encourage trade links with developing countries; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: Ministers are actively engaging with overseas governments in these countries to develop better trade links. The Prime Minster's trade-focused visits to India and China, on which I went in support, and my own trips to Russia and Brazil are prime examples of this.
	UK Trade and Investment is targeting 17 key high growth markets-Brazil, China (including Hong Kong), India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, UAE and Vietnam-based on their potential for growth and other criteria such as their market match and scope for UKTI help. UKTI is responding to this demand for help to secure new business by: ensuring there are targeted services and advice available for businesses considering these markets; raising greater awareness among UK business of these-such as through the 'Doing Business in Asia' events around the UK (November 2010, February 2011) this autumn and winter, and 'Partner Middle East'; communicating to business the specific opportunities in them; and campaigning for better access for UK companies.
	The UK Government are actively supporting efforts to sign EU free trade agreements with India, Mercosur (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay) and ASEAN (current bilateral negotiations are taking place with Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam) as well as seeking a successful conclusion to the WTO's Doha development round, all of which would bring significant benefits to developing countries.

Unemployment: Brighton

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people in Brighton, Kemptown constituency were not in employment, education or training in each month of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

John Hayes: The following table provides estimates of the number and proportion of people aged(1) 16 to 24 not in education, employment or training (NEET) in Brighton and Hove local authority in each year from 2005 to 2009.
	
		
			  People aged 16 to 24-years-old not in education, employment or training (NEET) in Brighton and Hove local authority 
			   Number NEET  95% Confidence Interval  Percentage of all 16 to 24-year-olds NEET  95% Confidence Interval 
			 2005 3,000 +/-1,000 12 +/- 5pp 
			 2006 4,000 +/- 2,000 11 +/- 5pp 
			 2007 5,000 +/- 2,000 13 +/- 5pp 
			 2008 5,000 +/- 2,000 12 +/- 4pp 
			 2009 6,000 +/- 2,000 17 +/- 5pp 
		
	
	This information is from the Annual Population Survey, which covers the period January to December of each year, with 2009 being the most recent estimate available. The Annual Population Survey is the only available source of data with a sample large enough to provide local authority estimates of the number of young people up to the age of 24 who are NEET. However, the sample is not large enough to provide estimates for smaller geographies, such as parliamentary constituencies.
	It is important to note that these estimates are subject to large sampling variability and should therefore be treated with caution and viewed in conjunction with their Confidence Intervals, which indicate how accurate an estimate is. For example, a Confidence Interval of +/- 5 percentage points (pp) means that the true value is between 5pp above the estimate and 5pp below the estimate.
	(1) Age used is academic age, which is defined as the respondents age as at the preceding 31 August.

Vocational Guidance

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take in designing his Department's new careers service to provide expert levels of service to those of all ages; what  (a) funding and  (b) resources he plans to allocate to adults using the service; and what steps he plans to take to ensure that (i) graduates who have been made redundant and (ii) qualified returners to the labour market can use this service.

John Hayes: The all-age careers service is being developed jointly by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Department for Education (DFE). To ensure expert levels of service to young people and adults, both Departments are working with the Careers Profession Alliance to take forward recommendations made by the Careers Profession Task Force in October 2010, and so raise the professional standards of careers guidance practitioners. To draw on the views, knowledge and experience of the careers sector, a Stakeholder Advisory Group has been established to inform the design of the new service. The Departments will also work with schools and local authorities as the service is established.
	Following the spending review, BIS and DFE are working through the detail of their spending settlements and are unable at this stage to confirm the funding and resources that will be available for the all-age service.
	The all-age careers service will be accessible online, by telephone and in the community. Careers advice and resources will be available to help redundant graduates and qualified returners to the labour market. Intensive face to face careers guidance will be prioritised for those with the greatest need, and the details of this model are being worked through.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Central Call System: Complaints

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent complaints he has received on the central call system for individual benefit claimants; and whether he plans to enable claimants to telephone their local offices.

Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions welcomes all customer feedback as a way to improve the quality of the services we provide. Recent feedback and/or complaints received regarding the centralisation of our telephony services has included reference to the accessibility of our services and the cost of contacting us via 0845 telephone numbers. We constantly review our service delivery to ensure we deliver the best possible service for our customers.
	The movement of local Jobcentre Plus offices to a national switchboard service is the latest stage in our telephony strategy to provide single national numbers to access our services. However, direct dial calls to a customer's personal adviser in their local Jobcentre Plus office are not affected by these changes and are still encouraged.

Child Benefit

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of parents who will cease to claim child benefit because a member of their household is a higher rate tax payer; and what mechanism he plans to put in place to ensure that parents who do not claim child benefit will continue to receive credits to satisfy the conditions for long-term benefits, including the state pension.

Steve Webb: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave on 17 November 2010,  Official Report, column 827W, to the hon. Member for Bolton West (Julie Hilling).

Departmental Publications

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the expenditure of his Department and its predecessor on printing  (a) Command Papers,  (b) papers laid before Parliament by Act,  (c) consultation documents and  (d) other papers in each of the last 10 years.

Chris Grayling: This information is not held centrally by the Department and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Disposable Income: Pay

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the level of median  (a) pay and  (b) real personal disposable income has been in each year since 1990.

Chris Grayling: The Office for National Statistics carries out the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) each April. This is the most comprehensive source of employee earnings information in the United Kingdom. Levels of earnings are estimated from ASHE and are provided for employees on adult rates of pay, whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence.
	The ASHE was developed to replace the New Earnings Survey (NES) in 2004. This included improvements to the coverage of employees, imputation for item non-response and the weighting of earnings estimates. An ASHE backseries for 1997 to 2003 was compiled using the ASHE methodology applied to the NES data sets. Earnings estimates for 1990 to 1996 are taken from the NES data, which was a GB survey.
	
		
			  Table 1: Median gross weekly earnings for full-time employees in GB for April of each year from 1990 until 1996 and for full-time employees in the UK for April of each year from 1997 to 2010 
			   Median gross weekly earnings (£) 
			 1990 (GB) 229.4 
			 1991 (GB) 246.9 
			 1992 (GB) 264.6 
			 1993 (GB) 273.3 
			 1994 (GB) 281.9 
			 1995 (GB) 290.3 
			 1996 (GB) 301.1 
			 1997 (UK) 320.5 
			 1998 (UK) 334.9 
			 1999 (UK) 345.5 
			 2000 (UK) 359.0 
			 2001 (UK) 375.9 
			 2002 (UK) 390.9 
			 2003 (UK) 404.0 
			 2004(1) (UK) 422.8 
			 2004(2) (UK) 419.2 
			 2005 (UK) 431.2 
			 2006(3) (UK) 446.4 
			 2006(4) (UK) 443.6 
			 2007 (UK) 457.6 
			 2008 (UK) 479.1 
			 2009 (UK) 488.5 
			 2010 (UK) 498.8 
			 (1) 2004 results excluding supplementary survey for comparison with 2003. (2) 2004 results including supplementary survey designed to improve coverage of the survey. (3) 2006 results with methodology consistent with 2005. (4) 2006 results with methodology consistent with 2007. (5) Figures have not been adjusted for inflation and have been rounded to the nearest 10 pence.  Note: Full-time employees on adult rates of pay, whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence.  Source: ASHE Data 1997 to 2010/NES Data 1990 to 1996 
		
	
	Estimates of equivalised household disposable incomes are available in the households below average income (HBAI) series. This uses disposable household income, adjusted using modified OECD equivalisation factors for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. These data are at a household not individual level.
	
		
			  Table 2: Median equivalised household income 1990-91 to 2008-09, in 2008-09 prices, £ per week 
			   Before housing costs  After housing costs 
			 1990-91 (UK) 319 253 
			 1991-92 (UK) 321 255 
			 1992-93 (UK) 322 256 
			 1993-95 (UK) 327 261 
			 1994-95 (GB) 322 254 
			 1995-96 (GB) 322 255 
			 1996-97 (GB) 336 268 
			 1997-98 (GB) 342 273 
			 1998-99 (GB) 348 279 
			 1999-2000 (GB) 358 291 
			 2000-01 (GB) 369 302 
			 2001-02 (GB) 388 319 
			 2002-03 (UK) 395 330 
			 2004-05 (UK) 398 337 
			 2005-06 (UK) 402 342 
			 2006-07 (UK) 404 344 
			 2007-08 (UK) 404 346 
			 2008-09 (UK) 407 343 
			  Notes: 1. FES figures are for the United Kingdom, FRS figures are for Great Britain up to 2001-02, and for the United Kingdom from 2002-03. The reference period for FRS figures is single financial years. FES figures are two combined calendar years from 1990-91-1992-93 and two financial years combined for 1993-95. 2. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to uncertainty. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 3. Figures have been presented on a before housing cost and an after housing cost basis. For before housing costs, housing costs (such as rent, water rates, mortgage interest payments, buildings insurance payments and ground rent and service charges) are not deducted from income, while for after housing costs they are. 4. Disposable incomes have been used to answer the question. This includes earnings from employment and self-employment, state support, income from occupational and private pensions, investment income and other sources. Income tax, payments, national insurance contributions, council tax/domestic rates and some other payments are deducted from incomes. 5. Incomes are presented in 2008-09 prices and have been rounded to the-nearest pound sterling.  Source: Family Expenditure Survey (FES) 1990-91 to 1993-95/Family Resources Survey (FRS). 1994-95 to 2008-09

Future Jobs Fund

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library a copy of  (a) each bid for funding from the Future Jobs Fund made to his Department and rejected as a consequence of the decision to discontinue the fund and  (b) his Department's correspondence with each such bidder.

Chris Grayling: The Department has not placed the requested bid documents in the Library as they could be provided only at a disproportionate cost. We are able to provide details of bids that were rejected as a consequence of the decision to discontinue the fund, the number of jobs included in these bids and the proposed maximum value. The Department has placed the table with this information in the Library.
	Also included is the correspondence which was sent to all organisations which had submitted a bid to the Future Jobs Fund after the 29 January. After that date such bids would not have completed the assessment process and the results would not have been announced before the general election in May 2010. Further individual correspondence is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost to the Department.

Housing Benefit

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of local rental markets he expects to be affordable to recipients of local housing allowance in 2014-15.

Steve Webb: The information is not available. The proportion of local rents affordable to local housing allowance recipients in 2014-15 will depend on movements in local rental markets between now and then and the detailed design of the measure to link local housing allowance rates to the consumer price index from April 2013.

Housing Benefit

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Aberdeen South of 22 November 2010,  Official Report, columns 18-19, on housing benefit, if he will place in the Library a copy of the international evidence cited.

Steve Webb: The international evidence referred to by the Secretary of State was work by Bargain and Doorley (2009) and work on Britain by Meghir and Phillips (2008). I have arranged for copies of these papers to be placed in the Library.

Housing Benefit

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of  (a) housing benefit and  (b) local housing allowance in (i) South Lanarkshire and (ii) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency share their tenancy with a non-dependant for which a deduction is made from their entitlement.

Sheila Gilmore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of  (a) housing benefit and  (b) local housing allowance in Edinburgh East constituency share their tenancy with a non-dependant in respect of whom a deduction is made from their entitlement.

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of  (a) housing benefit and  (b) local housing allowance in North Ayrshire and Arran constituency share their tenancy with a non-dependent person for whom a deduction is made from their entitlement.

Steve Webb: The information requested is not available at the local level.
	The Department does collect information on non-dependant deductions but to assess the completeness of recording and quality assure the figures would incur a disproportionate cost.

Housing Benefit

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the average amount of housing benefit paid was for each tenure type in  (a) South Lanarkshire and  (b) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the average amount of local housing allowance paid was for each tenure type in  (a) South Lanarkshire and  (b) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(3)  how many people in  (a) South Lanarkshire and  (b) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency receive local housing allowance.

Steve Webb: The information is not available at the constituency level.
	At present geographic breakdowns are only available for local authorities and regions. However, an exercise is being undertaken to add other geographical areas to the data; this will include parliamentary constituencies
	At August 2010, our records show that in South Lanarkshire there were 3,570 recipients of housing benefit assessed under the local housing allowance arrangements. The average housing benefit award for each available tenure type is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Average housing benefit awards in South Lanarkshire by tenure type, August 2010 
			  Tenure type  Average housing benefit (£ per week) 
			 Local authority tenant 53.80 
			 Registered social landlord tenant 67.26 
			 Private regulated tenant 76.19 
			 Private deregulated tenant (LHA) 92.88 
			 Private deregulated tenant (non-LHA) 81.80 
			 All tenures 62.29

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to respond to the letter of 28 October 2010 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms H Gourlay.

Chris Grayling: Following a thorough search of the Department's correspondence system, we are unable to locate this letter.

Remploy: Manpower

Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people Remploy has employed at management level in each year since 2000.

Maria Miller: The available information is detailed in the following table:
	
		
			  Total employed at management level 
			   Number 
			 1999-2000 308 
			 2000-01 313 
			 2001-02 347 
			 2002-03 370 
			 2003-04 424 
			 2004-05 455 
			 2005-06 450 
			 2006-07 449 
			 2007-08 498 
			 2008-09 466 
			 2009-10 524 
			  Note:  These figures cover anyone in the management structure from 'M1' grade (first rung of the management ladder) up to 'X' grade (senior managers and executive grades).  Source:  Remploy

Social Security Benefits: Overpayments

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information his Department holds on the proportion of over-payments to benefit recipients in Blackpool North and Cleveleys constituency which were  (a) due to customer error,  (b) due to departmental error and  (c) recovered from customers.

Steve Webb: The information is not available as data on recorded benefit debt is not broken down by geographical area.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions at what point during a payment period universal credit will be paid to employees who are paid monthly.

Chris Grayling: No decisions have yet been made on the timing and frequency of payments of universal credit, though we are considering whether payment should be made monthly to align with the most common payment pattern for earnings.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to make the real-time earnings data provided for calculation of universal credit available to local authorities.

Chris Grayling: The administration of universal credit will be managed by the Department for Work and Pensions. We are working closely with local authorities and the devolved administration on the implications for them of the introduction of universal credit, but we do not currently expect that local authorities will need to have access to real-time earnings data.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what mechanism he plans to put in place to enable people without online access to  (a) apply for universal credit and  (b) access their universal credit accounts.

Chris Grayling: Claims to universal credit will normally be made online, and we will work with partners across and outside Government to ensure that people are able to take advantage of the online service. Where that is not possible, we will offer alternative access routes, predominantly by phone but also face to face where necessary.

Universal Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether an employee's universal credit will be paid  (a) late or  (b) on time but on the basis of previous data in a case where real-time earnings data from an employer is delayed.

Chris Grayling: Employers will be expected to provide earnings data at the same time as making payments of earnings to their employees. If this does not occur we will put arrangements in place to ensure that payments to universal credit recipients are not delayed.

Winter Fuel Payments: Reading West

Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims for winter fuel payments his Department received from households in  (a) Reading West constituency,  (b) Reading borough and  (c) West Berkshire in the most recent 12 months for which figures are available.

Steve Webb: Most winter fuel payments are paid automatically without the need to claim them.
	The latest available information on the number of households receiving winter fuel payments in Reading West constituency, Reading borough and West Berkshire are available in the documents winter fuel payment (number of households) 2009-10 by parliamentary constituency (2005) and winter fuel payment (number of households) 2009-10 by local authority and gender. These are available in the House of Commons Library and on the internet at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=wfp

Winter Fuel Payments: Taxation

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the revenue cost of exempting the winter fuel payment from taxation was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Steve Webb: By the end of 2010-11, we estimate that around £290 million would have been paid in income tax on winter fuel payments in that year had they not been exempt from taxation.
	 Notes:
	1. A winter fuel payment of £250 per household containing someone who has reached women's state pension age is modelled. Where the household contains someone aged 80 or over, this payment is increased to £400.
	2. Figures use HMRC data on the number of tax payers by tax band for 2007-08, projected forwards using June 2010 Budget assumptions. It is assumed that all tax payers of appropriate age get a winter fuel payment.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Biodiversity

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for International Development on the role of her Department in supporting protection of biodiversity overseas through the projects it delivers.

Richard Benyon: holding answer 13 December 2010
	 Ministers have discussed the outcomes of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya and how to take them forward, particularly on biodiversity, development and climate mitigation and adaptation, and in the context of wider international engagement.
	My colleagues at the Department for International Development are committed to integrating environment and climate change into development, including environment and climate proofing our official development assistance spending.

Common Land

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what powers local authorities have to designate land within their ownership and for the use of the public as town or village greens.

Richard Benyon: Landowners, including local authorities, can apply under section 15(8) of the Commons Act 2006 to register their land as a town or village green, a procedure known as "voluntary dedication". Guidance on the voluntary dedication of land as a green has been published on the DEFRA website at:
	www.defra.gov.uk/rural/protected/commonland/guidance.htm#4

CABINET OFFICE

Business: Closures

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many businesses have ceased trading in each local authority area in England in each of the last three years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated December 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many businesses have ceased trading in each local authority area in England in each of the last three years.
	Annual statistics on the number of enterprise births and survivals are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at www.statistics.gov.uk. The tables contain the latest statistics available, which show enterprise deaths at county and county district level between 2007 and 2009. Please note that data for 2009 is provided in a separate table, as it includes totals for the seven new Unitary Authorities introduced in April 2009. A copy has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Business: Closures

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many businesses in rural areas have ceased trading in each region in each of the last three years.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated December 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many businesses in rural areas have ceased trading in each region in each of the last three years.
	Annual statistics on the number of enterprise births and survivals are available from the ONS release on Business Demography at
	www.statistics.gov.uk
	However, information on urban and rural areas is only available for 2009. The following table contains the latest statistics available, which show enterprise deaths in rural areas by Government Office Region for 2009.
	
		
			  Number of enterprise deaths for 2009 in rural areas 
			   Number 
			 North-east 1,705 
			 North-west 4,565 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 4,800 
			 East midlands 6,620 
			 West midlands 4,915 
			 East of England 9,545 
			 London 105 
			 South-east 12,115 
			 South-west 8,585 
			 Wales 4,155 
			 Scotland 5,575 
			 Northern Ireland 2,710 
			 UK 65,395 
			  Note:  Rural areas are defined as output areas and wards where the bulk of their population falls in a settlement of less than 10,000 residents.

Iraq Committee of Inquiry: Public Appointments

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether the appointment of Margaret Aldred to the secretariat of the Iraq Inquiry was made under his Department's managed move procedures.

Francis Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner (Mr Hurd) gave on 1 December 2010,  Official Report, columns 882-83W.

Unemployment: Rural Areas

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the level of unemployment was in rural areas in each region in each of the last 10 quarters.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated December 2010:
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking what the level of unemployment was in rural areas in each region in each of the last 10 quarters. (30386)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles unemployment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
	Table 1 shows the number unemployed people in rural areas in each region from the APS for the latest 10 periods to the 12 months ending March 2010, which is the latest period for which data is available. Estimates from the APS are not available for Northern Ireland.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS and Annual LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. A guide to the quality of the estimates is given in table 1.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of people unemployed in rural areas( 1)  in English regions, Wales and Scotland 
			  Thousand 
			   12 month period ending 
			   2007  2008  2009  2010( 2) 
			   Dec  Mar  June  Sept  Dec  Mar  June  Sept  Dec  March 
			 North-east 11 11 11 13 14 16 17 16 17 ***17 
			 North-west 12 12 13 12 12 16 18 21 24 **25 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 22 19 19 17 17 19 23 23 25 **28 
			 East midlands 23 21 21 20 21 28 31 35 34 ***36 
			 West midlands 16 16 14 16 16 19 23 24 25 ***22 
			 East 30 31 29 33 38 40 40 42 43 **42 
			 London - - - - - - - - - - 
			 South-east 29 30 28 29 32 35 40 46 48 **51 
			 South-west 29 29 26 25 29 32 39 43 45 **50 
			 Wales 22 22 23 25 26 27 31 30 33 **32 
			 Scotland 31 32 31 31 36 35 40 47 47 **46 
			 Northern Ireland - - - - - - - - - - 
			 '-' = Not available (1) There is currently no UK-wide standard classification of Urban and Rural land. There are, however, agreed standards for each of the separate administrations. See the following links for details on the classifications and their methodologies: England and Wales: www.statistics.gov.uk/geography/nrudp.asp Scotland: www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/rural/seurc-00.asp Northern Ireland: www.nisra.gov.uk/geography/default.asp10.htm (2) Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates. See Guide to Quality below.  Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV-for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5% we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220.  Key: * 0 = CV<5%-Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered precise ** 5 = CV <10%-Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 = CV <20%-Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ? 20%-Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes CV = Coefficient of Variation  Source: Annual Population Survey

TREASURY

Departmental Travel

Paul Maynard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on grey fleet in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10.

Danny Alexander: The Treasury spent £5,795 in 2008-09 and £5,834 in 2009-10 on business mileage claims for staff using their own vehicles. Private vehicles are only used on official business where there is a benefit to the Department and it represents the most cost effective means of transport.

Economic Policy: EU Action

William Cash: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what legal advice he has  (a) sought and  (b) received on the compatibility of the European Financial Stability Mechanism with provisions of the Treaties (i) prior to and (ii) subsequent to agreement to Council Regulation No. 407/2010; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The European Financial Stability Mechanism (EFSM) was created following agreement by a qualified majority of member states at the ECOFIN meeting on 9 May 2010. The terms of the EFSM are set out in EU Council Regulation No. 407/2010 and it is compatible with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Treasury Ministers received advice on this issue, including legal advice, as part of the process of policy development.

Employment

Julie Elliott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the change in the number of  (a) public and  (b) private sector jobs in Sunderland Central constituency and in England in the period up to 2015.

Danny Alexander: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) was formed in May 2010 to make an independent assessment of the public finances and the economy.
	On 29 November 2010, the OBR released the official forecast for total employment and general Government employment, updated for the spending review announcements.
	As the OBR sets out in paragraph 3.98, page 62 of its "November 2010 Economic and fiscal outlook" (Cm 7979), it expects total employment to rise by 1.1 million over the next five years, from 29.0 million in 2010 to 30.1 million in 2015. General Government employment is projected to fall by just over 400,000 between 2010-11 and 2015-16, more than offset by a rise in market sector employment of around 1.5 million.
	The OBR has not published forecasts on a sub-national level.

EU Grants and Loans: Republic of Ireland

William Cash: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2010,  Official Report, column 977W, on EU grants and Loans: Republic of Ireland, what assessment he made of the legal advice available to him in determining that he had full confidence in the  (a) adherence to and  (b) compliance with the terms set out in article 3 of Council Regulation No. 407/2010 by each relevant EU institution.

Mark Hoban: The European Financial Stability Mechanism (EFSM) was created following agreement by a qualified majority of member states at the ECOFIN meeting on 9 May 2010. The terms of the EFSM are set out in EU Council Regulation No. 407/2010. Treasury Ministers received advice on this issue, including legal advice, as part of the process of policy development.

Football: South Africa

Graham Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on entertainment activities related to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Danny Alexander: No entertainment spending related to the 2010 FIFA World Cup was incurred by the Treasury.

Members: Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to respond to the letters of 5 and 15 October 2010 from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay on his constituent Mr Kerwin.

Justine Greening: holding answer 29 November 20 10
	I have replied to the hon. Member.

Public Expenditure

Simon Kirby: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that the Government's expenditure proposals do not disproportionately affect people on low incomes.

Justine Greening: The Spending Review Framework (Cm 7872) clearly stated that public spending decisions would be made in line with the Government's values of freedom, fairness and responsibility. The Government's approach to public spending ensures that expenditure is focused on protecting the quality of the key front services that are important to the public and provide support to those who need it most.
	To ensure that the choices made in tackling the deficit are fair, the Government have for the first time undertaken and published a distributional analysis of the impacts of the Spending Review (see Annex B in the 'Spending Review 2010' document). This shows that after combining the impact of tax, benefits and public service spending changes, the highest quintile of earners will make the greatest contribution towards reducing the deficit as a percentage of their income and benefits in kind.
	The Government have ensured fairness by:
	investing £7 billion in 15 hours of free childcare for disadvantaged two-year-olds; a pupil premium for those at school, and help to get to university.
	increases in the child tax credit, worth £180 above indexation in 2011-12 and £160 above indexation in 2012-13;
	creating a triple guarantee to uprate the basic state pension by earnings, prices or 2.5%, whichever is highest;
	increasing the standard minimum income guarantee in the pension credit by the cash rise in a full basic state pension in April 2011;
	preserving key benefits for older people, including winter fuel payments, free eye tests, free prescriptions, concessionary bus travel, and free television licences; and
	permanently increasing the award for cold weather payments to £25.

Students: Fees and Charges

Steve Brine: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the average annual cost to the Exchequer of ending university tuition fees for all domestic full and part-time higher education students.

Danny Alexander: Lord Browne's independent review of higher education funding and student finance, which was published in October this year, before the spending review, estimated the cost of replacing tuition fees at around £3 billion a year.

Taxation: Self-assessment

John Howell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax return forms were issued to  (a) women and  (b) men in 2009-10.

David Gauke: holding answer 13 December 2010
	It is estimated that 6.3 million men and 3.1 million women were issued with Self Assessment Returns for the 2008-09 tax year during 2009-10.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

House of Lords: Reform

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to bring forward proposals for reform of the House of Lords.

Mark Harper: A cross-party Committee, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, will come forward with proposals for a wholly or mainly elected second chamber.
	The Government will publish a draft Bill early next year. The Bill will then be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny. The Government hopes that this will be carried out by a joint committee of both Houses.

Members

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what factors he took into account when developing his proposals to reduce the number of hon. Members to 600.

Mark Harper: Ultimately it is a matter of judgment as to the most suitable size of the House, and Ministers decided that a modest reduction to 600 seats would be appropriate, mindful that hon. Members must be able to serve their constituents and that the House must be of sufficient size to be able to carry out its functions effectively. Under the Government's proposals, the 1 December 2009 register suggests the electoral quota for the UK would be around 76,000. More than a third of the existing constituencies are already within 5% either side of 76,000, so the impact of our proposals will see constituencies of a size well within existing norms.

Parliament

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what factors he took into account when deciding upon five years as his proposed period for a fixed-term Parliament.

Mark Harper: Current legislation provides for Parliaments of up to five years. A period of five years provides the right amount of time to allow for strong and stable Government while still ensuring that Parliament and Government remain accountable to the electorate.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to meet his Albanian counterpart to discuss  (a) the Albanian contribution to the International Security Assistance Force mission in Afghanistan and  (b) other bilateral defence issues.

Liam Fox: I have no current plans to meet with the Albanian Defence Minister. However, I do recognise the important contribution Albania makes to the NATO led mission in Afghanistan.

Aircraft Carriers

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the likely effect on the economy of his decision to build two aircraft carriers.

Peter Luff: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 December 2010,  Official Report, column 648, to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne North (Catherine McKinnell).

Armed Forces: Anti-Semitism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the level of anti-Semitism in the armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: While no such specific assessment has been made, any prejudicial behaviour would come to light through the services' normal disciplinary procedures and no problem with anti-Semitism has come to light. A Rabbi to the armed forces has now been appointed and he confirms that there have been no instances where personnel have approached him regarding anti-Semitism.

Armed Forces: Housing

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on changes to housing needs attributable to relocation to the UK of members of the armed forces and their families stationed in Germany.

Andrew Robathan: Ministry of Defence officials are working closely with those in other Government Departments, including the Department for Communities and Local Government, as we address the estates and basing issues arising from the strategic defence and security review. This engagement covers many issues, including housing, and will continue as we develop our plans.

Armed Forces: Mental Health Services

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency plans are in place should a catastrophic event prevent the Queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham from providing medical care for injured servicemen and women.

Andrew Robathan: In the event of a catastrophic event at the new Queen Elizabeth hospital, military patients would be assigned to other NHS hospitals on the basis of clinical need and bed availability, based on advice from the Department of Health and NHS (including the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust) at the time.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he plans to take in response to the order of the chairman of the War Pensions Tribunal to disclose confidential documents relating to UK atomic tests.

Andrew Robathan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 November 2010,  Official Report, column 746W, to the hon. Member for Dunfermline and West Fife (Thomas Docherty).

Armed Forces: Young People

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the six-year agreement entered into by 16 year-olds on joining the armed forces with the UK's obligations under the  (a) European Convention on Human Rights,  (b) International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,  (c) Convention on the Rights of the Child and  (d) Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict.

Andrew Robathan: All due consideration has been given to domestic and international legal obligations in developing the relevant armed forces legislation and policies concerning members of the armed forces who are under 18 years of age.

Clyde Naval Base

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what published information he has made available to local organisations and individuals about his estimates of the  (a) trend in the number of service personnel based at HM Naval Base Clyde and  (b) the projected number of (i) single living accommodation bed spaces and (ii) service family accommodation properties to be built between now and 2021.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 25 November 2010
	On 6 May 2009, as part of an announcement regarding the Maritime Change Programme, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) confirmed that HM Naval Base Clyde will become the main operating base for all classes of submarines, including the future classes of submarines, such as the replacement for the Vanguard Class,  Official Report, column 17WS. Since then, the MOD has and continues to work closely with the local authorities in the Clyde area to assess the potential impact of this decision. This has included releasing preliminary information, which includes initial estimates of the potential numbers of personnel likely to move to the naval base and their potential accommodation requirements. The information released was for future planning purposes only and does not reflect what might be the final position.
	In view of his interest in this matter, I will write to the hon. Member to provide him with a copy of the data released to Clyde local authorities along with an explanation of how these forecasts have been calculated.
	 Substantive answer from Andrew Robathan to Alan Reid:
	In my recent response to your Parliamentary Question regarding the trend in the number of service personnel that will be based at Her Majesty's Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde and their potential accommodation requirements (Official Report dated 30 Nov 2010: column 745W), I undertook to write to provide a copy of the data that was released to local authorities in the Clyde area. Please find enclosed a copy of the presentation used to brief local authorities in the Clyde area. This has been presented to council members and local government officers for Argyle and Bute Council (22 September 2010), local Helensburgh and Lomond Councillors (5 October 2010) and the Helensburgh and Lomond Community Council (28 October 2010). It is also intended to present the same information to Shandon and Rhu Community Council on 8 December 2010.
	First, I would like to explain that this data has been used by the Department for internal planning purposes and to assist local authorities in the Clyde area to review their arrangements in light of the potential future infrastructure and support needs of HMNB Clyde. The data used in the attached presentation was produced before the outcomes of the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) were published and is based on a number of assumptions, elements of which may be subject to change. It has, therefore, always been presented with the caveat that the data should not be considered to represent the final position of the Department. Work remains ongoing within the Department to implement the outcomes of the SDSR and HMNB Clyde will continue to update their forecasts as this work progresses.
	Turning now to specific slides within the presentation, I would like to draw your attention to slide 13, which forecasts a potential increase in the number of service personnel, between now and 2022, from 3,200 to 5,300. This forecast was based on the Royal Navy's existing staffing levels required to support the Fleet and was produced before the publication of the SDSR, which as you will be aware, confirmed the requirement for future manpower changes within the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The forecast therefore, does not take into account any future reduction in the numbers of service personnel. I can confirm that work is ongoing to assess the impact of the SDSR on HMNB Clyde, and this is being conducted alongside that already underway to assess how best to implement the Department's aim of making HMNB Clyde the main operating base for all classes of submarines, including the future classes of submarines such as the replacement for the Vanguard Class.
	Slide 14 of the presentation includes a projection that the number of all personnel to be based at HMNB Clyde would rise to 9,500. This figure includes the 5,300 figure discussed above and projects that the number of non-service personnel, including MOD civilians, the Commercial Partner (Babcock Marine and Technology Divisions) and other contractors, will increase from 3,000 to 4,200. When presenting the 4,200 figure to the local authorities, the Department made it clear that there are substantial margins of uncertainty in relation to this forecast. For example, the forecast was calculated assuming a direct correlation between workload and workforce and does not take into account any potential efficiencies such as economies of scale. In addition, the estimate does not account for the reduction in the Department's civilian workforce, confirmed in the SDSR, nor does it include any assessment of work ongoing within the Department to develop a procurement strategy that will replace the existing Warship Support Modernisation Initiative, which will deliver future elements of Base and Royal Naval Fleet support to at all three Naval Bases, including HMNB Clyde, from 2013.
	Turning to slide 17, which contains an estimate that the number of Single Living Accommodation (SLA) spaces may increase from 2,250 to 3,250 and that the number of Service Family Accommodation (SFA) spaces may increase from 515 to 685. As the slide highlights, predicting the future accommodation requirements is a complex area, and I would like to make it clear that these forecasts are about potential space requirements and do not necessarily indicate that the Department will need to build new accommodation to meet such a forecast. For example, it is possible that some of this requirement could be met by better utilisation of existing capacity, including through refurbishment, and work continues within the Department to assess how best to deliver the future SLA and SFA requirement. I can, however, confirm that informal discussions on how we might meet our potential future SLA requirement for HMNB Clyde have recently taken place with the Argyll and Bute Council, but more work is required before the Department can place any formal plans before the Argyll and Bute Council.
	I understand that there has been recent local media interest in the potential numbers of personnel moving to HMNB Clyde over the coming years and the impact this might have on local services such as education and health services. I would like to reassure you that the Department is committed to working closely with the local authorities in the Clyde area to assist them in planning for the future infrastructure and support needs of the area. As part of this process of continuous engagement with the local authorities, HMNB Clyde will continue to provide them with preliminary forecasts and to consult with them on the Department's plans, which may have an impact on the local communities.
	I hope that you find the copy of the presentation helpful and that this letter has helped to explain the calculations and assumptions behind the data contained in the presentation.

Defence: Procurement

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many suppliers of  (a) equipment,  (b) personnel,  (c) parts and  (d) assembly facilities for the Vanguard-class Trident submarine maintenance project there are in each (i) Government Office region, (ii) local authority area and (iii) parliamentary constituency;
	(2)  how many suppliers of  (a) equipment,  (b) personnel,  (c) parts and  (d) assembly facilities for the L11 5A1 Long Range Rifle are located in each (i) Government Office region, (ii) local authority area and (iii) parliamentary constituency;
	(3)  how many  (a) equipment,  (b) personnel,  (c) parts and  (d) assembly facility suppliers for the Astute-class submarine construction there are in each (i) Government Office region, (ii) local authority area and (iii) parliamentary constituency;
	(4)  how many suppliers of  (a) equipment,  (b) personnel,  (c) parts and  (d) assembly facilities for the SA80 A2 L85 Individual Weapon are located in each (i) Government Office region, (ii) local authority area and (iii) parliamentary constituency.

Peter Luff: I will write to the hon. Member about her request shortly.

Defence: Procurement

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the monetary value was of payments made by his Department to  (a) Babcock International Group plc,  (b) Finmeccanica SpA,  (c) QinetiQ Group plc,  (d) BAE Systems plc,  (e) Hewlett-Packard Company,  (f) Rolls-Royce Group plc,  (g) EADS NV3,  (h) Lockheed Martin Corporation and  (i) Thales SA was in each year since 2006;
	(2)  what the monetary value was of payments made by his Department to  (a) BAE Systems plc, including payments made to BAE Systems/Rockwell Collins Data Link Solutions LLC,  (b) Corda Ltd,  (c) Detica Group plc,  (d) Detica Ltd, Europaams SAS,  (e) IFS Defence Ltd,  (f) MBDA France,  (g) MBDA UK Ltd,  (h) Piper Group PLC,  (i) SAAB AB (Publ),  (j) SAAB AB Gripen,  (k) SAAB Barracuda AB,  (l) SAAB Bofors Dynamics AB,  (m) SAAB Seaeye Ltd and  (n) SAAB Training Systems AB in each year since 2006;
	(3)  what the monetary value was of payments made by his Department to  (a) Aerosystems International Ltd,  (b) Atlantic Inertial Systems Ltd,  (c) BAE Systems (Defence Systems) Ltd,  (d) BAE Systems (Hawk Synthetic Training) Ltd,  (e) BAE Systems (Operations) Ltd,  (f) BAE Systems Australia Ltd,  (g) BAE Systems Bofors AB,  (h) BAE Systems Defence Ltd,  (i) BAE Systems Electronics Ltd,  (j) BAE Systems Hagglunds AB,  (k) BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc,  (l) BAE Systems Information and Electronic Warfare Systems,  (m) BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies Ltd,  (n) BAE Systems Land Systems (Bridging) Ltd,  (o) BAE Systems Land Systems (Munitions and Ordnance) Ltd,  (p) BAE Systems Land Systems (Weapons and Vehicles) Ltd,  (q) BAE Systems Marine Ltd,  (r) BAE Systems National Security Solutions Inc,  (s) BAE Systems Pinzgauer Ltd,  (t) BAE Systems PLC,  (u) BAE Systems Regional Aircraft Ltd,  (v) BAE Systems Surface Ships Integrated Support Ltd,  (w) BAE Systems Surface Ships Ltd,  (x) BAE Systems Surface Ships Maritime Ltd,  (y) BAE Systems Surface Ships Portsmouth Ltd,  (z) BAE Systems Surface Ships Support Ltd and (aa) BAE Systems (Aviation Services) Ltd in each year since 2006;
	(4)  what the monetary value was of payments made by his Department to  (a) Ascent Flight Training (Management) Ltd,  (b) AWE Management Ltd,  (c) AWE plc,  (d) Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company,  (e) Lockheed Martin Aerospace Systems Integration Corp,  (f) Lockheed Martin Canada Inc,  (g) Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems and Sensors Ltd,  (h) Lockheed Martin Overseas Corp,  (i) Lockheed Martin Sippican Inc,  (j) Lockheed Martin UK Insys Ltd,  (k) Lockheed Martin UK Integrated Systems and Solutions,  (l) Lockheed Martin UK Ltd,  (m) Lockheed Martin UK Strategic Systems Ltd and  (n) Raytheon/Lockheed Martin Javelin Joint Venture in each year since 2006;
	(5)  what the monetary value was of payments made by his Department to  (a) ASAP Calibration Services Ltd,  (b) Boldon James Ltd,  (c) Graphics Research Corporation Ltd,  (d) HVR Consulting Services Ltd,  (e) QinetiQ Commerce Decisions Ltd,  (f) QinetiQ Group plc,  (g) QinetiQ Ltd and  (h) QinetiQ Target Services Ltd in each year since 2006;
	(6)  what the monetary value was of payments made by his Department to  (a) Agustawestland International Ltd,  (b) Aviation Training International Ltd,  (c) DRS C3 Systems Inc,  (d) DRS Data Services Ltd,  (e) DRS Technologies UK Ltd,  (f) Europaams SAS,  (g) Galileo Avionica Spa,  (h) MBDA France,  (i) MBDA UK Ltd,  (j) Selex Communications Ltd,  (k) Selex Galileo Ltd,  (l) Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems Ltd,  (m) Selex Systems Integration Ltd,  (n) Vega Consulting Services Ltd and  (o) Westland Helicopters Ltd in each year since 2006;
	(7)  what the monetary value was of payments made by his Department to  (a) EDS Defence Ltd,  (b) Hewlett-Packard Ltd and  (c) HP Enterprise Services Defence and Security UK Ltd in each year since 2006;
	(8)  what the monetary value was of payments made by his Department to  (a) Airbus UK Ltd,  (b) Astrium Ltd,  (c) EADS Defence and Security Systems Ltd,  (d) EADS Deutschland GmbH,  (e) EADS France SAS,  (f) EADS Test and Services (UK) Ltd,  (g) EADS Test Engineering Services (UK) Ltd,  (h) Eurocopter,  (i) Eurocopter UK Ltd,  (j) Europaams SAS,  (k) Infoterra Ltd,  (l) MBDA France,  (m) MBDA UK Ltd,  (n) Paradigm Secure Communications Ltd and  (o) Paradigm Services Ltd in each year since 2006;
	(9)  what the monetary value was of payments made by his Department to  (a) Babcock Dyncorp Ltd,  (b) Babcock Integrated Technology Ltd,  (c) Babcock International Group PLC,  (d) Babcock Marine (Clyde) Ltd,  (e) Babcock Marine (Rosyth) Ltd,  (f) Babcock Support Services Ltd,  (g) BNS Nuclear Services Ltd,  (h) Debut Services (South West) Ltd,  (i) Debut Services Ltd,  (j) Devonport Royal Dockyard Ltd,  (k) Frazer-Nash Consultancy Ltd,  (l) Holdfast Training Services Ltd,  (m) LSC Group Ltd,  (n) Rosyth Royal Dockyard Ltd,  (o) Rosyth Royal Dockyard Pension scheme and  (p) Strachan and Henshaw Ltd in each year since 2006;
	(10)  what the monetary value was of payments made by his Department to  (a) Industria de Turbo Propulsores S.A.,  (b) Optimized Systems and Solutions Ltd,  (c) Powerfield Ltd,  (d) Rolls-Royce Corporation,  (e) Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd and Co KG,  (f) Rolls-Royce Marine Electrical Systems Ltd,  (g) Rolls-Royce Marine Power Operations Ltd,  (h) Rolls-Royce PLC,  (i) Rolls-Royce Power Engineering PLC,  (j) Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Ltd and  (k) Vinters Engineering PLC in each year since 2006;
	(11)  what the monetary value was of payments made by his Department to  (a) Europaams SAS,  (b) Quintec Associates Ltd,  (c) Thales Air Defence Ltd,  (d) Thales ATM Ltd,  (e) Thales Avionics Electrical Systems Ltd,  (f) Thales Avionics Ltd,  (g) Thales Communications Inc,  (h) Thales Communications Ltd,  (i) Thales E-Security Ltd,  (j) Thales Missile Electronics Ltd,  (k) Thales Naval Ltd,  (l) Thales Nederland BV,  (m) Thales Norway AS,  (n) Thales Optronics (Bury St Edmunds) Ltd,  (o) Thales Optronics Ltd,  (p) Thales Systemes Aeroportes SA,  (q) Thales Training and Simulation (ACE) Ltd,  (r) Thales Training and Simulation (Eagle Middle Wallop) Ltd,  (s) Thales Training and Simulation (Merlin) Ltd,  (t) Thales Training and Simulation Ltd,  (u) Thales UK Ltd and  (v) Thales Underwater Systems Ltd in each year since 2006.

Peter Luff: General information on Ministry of Defence spending with individual companies is available in UK Defence Statistics 2010 at table 1.17. Organisations paid £5 million or more in 2009-10. I will write to the hon. Member with additional information as soon as this is available.

Departmental Conferences

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's annual budget for conferences was on  (a) 7 May 2010 and  (b) 7 December 2010.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence does not have a discrete budget for conference expenditure. The hosting of, or attendance at, a conference is determined by business need and all conference-related expenditure must be necessary, appropriate, cost-effective and an admissible charge to public funds.
	The financial management measures notified to all staff by the Permanent Under-Secretary and Chief of Defence Staff in July 2010 will reduce expenditure on conferences by constraining travel and limiting numbers attending meetings and events.

Electronic Warfare

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funding his Department has allocated to cyber security matters in each year from 2010-11 to 2014-15; and to which  (a) units in his Department and  (b) programmes and projects such funding has been allocated.

Nick Harvey: £650 million has been agreed to fund the National Cyber Programme across Government to enhance our protection in cyber space. The Ministry of Defence is in the process of completing its annual planning round which will allocate detailed programme budgets. This is expected to conclude in early 2011.

Ex-servicemen: Radiation Exposure

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many meetings  (a) he,  (b) his predecessors and  (c) his officials have had with representatives of the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association in the last three years.

Andrew Robathan: I understand that neither my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence, nor his predecessors, have met with representatives of the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association (BNTVA) in the last three years. However, I can confirm that the hon. Member for North Durham (Mr Jones), when he was a Defence Minister, met with the Association twice, and Defence officials have met with them on at least three occasions.
	The Ministry of Defence officials and BNTVA members have also been present at a number of meetings and conferences dealing with a variety of veterans' related issues.

Ex-servicemen: Radiation Exposure

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department holds on the number of  (a) British citizens and  (b) dependants of British citizens compensated under nuclear test veteran compensation schemes operated by foreign governments; and if he will estimate how many such persons would be eligible for compensation under the arrangements operated by his Department.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not hold this information and we could not estimate how many UK nationals could be eligible for compensation under schemes operated by foreign governments.
	UK nationals could have been employed in any number of roles in support of foreign governments' nuclear tests, and there would have been no requirement for the MOD to be aware of this.

Harrier Aircraft

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what advice informed his decision to end the Harrier fleet of jets.

Peter Luff: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 November 2010,  Official Report, columns 317-19W, to my hon. Friends the Members for New Forest East (Dr Lewis) and Portsmouth North (Penny Mordaunt).

Military Aircraft: Training

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training his Department has provided for  (a) fast jet,  (b) helicopter and  (c) multi-engine pilots overseas by (i) location, (ii) aircraft type, (iii) hours flown and (iv) cost in each of the last five years.

Nick Harvey: All initial flying training for UK fast jets, helicopters, and multi-engine pilots takes place within the UK. However, training does not cease after pilots have completed their formal training but continues throughout their flying careers, because all operational flying includes an element of training. Small numbers of UK pilots are regularly posted on exchange tours overseas and this often involves conversion training to adapt to specific aircraft types. In addition, UK pilots regularly take part in flying exercises overseas with international partners. However, the information requested on location, aircraft type, hours flown and costs for these activities outside of the UK is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Military Bases: Wales

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce his proposals for the future of Ministry of Defence establishments in Wales.

Nick Harvey: Following the Strategic Defence and Security Review, final decisions on the future of defence establishments across the UK will be made as quickly as possible. We plan to be as open as we can be. These decisions will require detailed investment appraisals and wider impact assessments. They will primarily focus on the military capability we require but will be sensitive to economic and social impacts and the needs of our personnel and their families.
	Further to my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State's announcement on 19 October 2010, no further decisions have been taken in respect of the future of St Athan as a result of the Defence Technical Training Change Programme. This will build on the Defence Training Rationalisation (DTR) project for which the PFI procurement was cancelled on 19 October 2010.

Nuclear Weapons: Testing

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what documents relating to nuclear tests in 1957 and 1958 his Department holds but has not published.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 2 December 2010
	In accordance with the Public Records Acts, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) withholds from release to the public at the National Archives files that are over 30 years old, or extracts from them, if and for so long as their contents are judged to be sensitive. The MOD continues to work closely with the War Pensions Tribunal with a view to ensuring that all relevant documents relating to the war pensions appeals are disclosed to the Tribunal. Special security arrangements have been agreed with the Tribunal to ensure appropriate handling of any highly classified documents.

RAF Lossiemouth: Tornado Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many passes have taken place at  (a) RAF Holbeach,  (b) RAF Tain and  (c) the Cape Wrath Range by Tornado GR4s taking off from RAF Lossiemouth in each year since 2004.

Nick Harvey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 November 2010,  Official Report, columns 728-32W. Further information concerning the passes by Tornado GR4s from RAF Lossiemouth that have taken place at Defence Training Estate (DTE) Holbeach, DTE Tain and DTE Cape Wrath is held in different formats by each of the ranges so can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

HEALTH

Ambulance Services: Standards

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the letter of 23 September 2010 from his Department's Director of Performance to the Chief Executive of each strategic health authority, what information his Department has received from each strategic health authority in respect of  (a) patient handover between ambulance and acute services and  (b) service operation issues in each NHS trust; if he will place in the Library a copy of each such report received by his Department; and what the job title is of the designated Winter Lead in each strategic health authority.

Simon Burns: Information about patient handover between ambulance and acute services is published at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Statistics/Performancedataandstatistics/WeeklySituationReports/index.htm
	Information on service operation issues in each national health service trust is management information which allows the local NHS and the Department to gauge individual health economy operational problems. The Department is currently reviewing publication of this information.
	The job titles of designated winter leads in each strategic health authority are provided as follows:
	
		
			  SHA  Job title 
			 West Midlands Director of Performance and Provider Development 
			 NHS South West Director of Finance and Performance 
			   
			 North East (joint) Strategic Head of Performance 
			  Strategic Head of Emergency Preparedness and Resilience 
			   
			 NHS North West Chief Nurse and Executive Director of Performance and Quality 
			 South Central Head of Performance 
			 NHS London Head of Performance Improvement 
			 East Midlands Director of Provider Development 
			 South East Coast Director of Finance and Performance 
			 NHS Yorkshire and the Humber Deputy Director of Performance 
			 East of England Director of Commissioning, Performance and QIPP

Dementia: Health Services

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on steps to improve the care of dementia since the meeting of the Ministerial Task Force for Dementia in September 2010.

Paul Burstow: The Ministerial Advisory Group on Dementia Research is currently working via its subgroups on the key issues affecting dementia with the aim of suggesting practical ways to improve the volume, quality and impact of dementia research. The sub groups will report back on their progress to the final meeting of the ministerial group in March 2011. As reported in the Department's November Structural Reform Plan Monthly Implementation Update available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_122326.pdf
	Most recently, at the end of September we published a new dementia outcomes focused Implementation Plan. This set out the Department's priority objectives for improving the care of those with dementia including a focus on early diagnosis and intervention for all, improved quality of care in general hospitals, living well with dementia in care homes and reducing the use of antipsychotic medication to treat people with dementia.
	In support of the Implementation Plan a National Dementia Declaration was jointly launched in October by the Government and the Alzheimer's Society. This brings together a range of bodies, each setting out what they plan to do to support the implementation of the strategy. With respect to research, for example, the Alzheimer's Research Trust is launching a new strategy to increase their research spending and is supporting 37 new projects including pioneering work on diagnosis using brain scans, further research on unravelling the genetics of the disease, and research in the biomarkers which play a crucial role in diagnosis and understanding disease progression. They will also be undertaking a project working with scientists to better understand research capacity in the field looking at encouraging more people into this area.
	The Department is developing a commissioning pack to provide guidance for primary care trusts and local authorities on how best to commission dementia services.

Departmental Conferences

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's annual budget for conferences was at  (a) 7 May 2010 and  (b) 7 December 2010.

Simon Burns: The Department does not hold this level of detailed information. However, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Danny Alexander) announced a package of departmental measures in May that are designed to deliver efficiency savings of some £6 billion (across Government) in the current financial year. These measures include a freeze on communications, marketing and advertising, the definition of which includes expenditure on conferences.
	In response to the introduction of these measures, the Department has implemented a range of controls, which includes the establishment of a 'Communications Control Panel' that scrutinises business cases from within the Department and its arm's length bodies. Beyond delegated limits, Cabinet Office approval has to be sought.

Diabetes: Health Education

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS spent on diabetes prevention in each of the last five years.

Paul Burstow: There are a range of factors which contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes; some of which are modifiable and appropriate interventions can reduce the risk of, or delay the onset of, the disease. However, as these interventions also reduce the risk of other diseases, it is very difficult to disaggregate those specifically aimed at diabetes prevention.
	This information is not collected centrally.

Diabetes: Health Education

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS spent on diabetes information leaflets in each of the last five years.

Paul Burstow: It is generally the responsibility of primary care trusts and local providers of diabetes services to ensure that patients have information about their condition. At a national level, NHS Diabetes, the national service improvement team, has produced five patient focused leaflets in the last three years at a total cost of £6,848.
	This information is not collected centrally.

Doctors: Training

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of foundation house officers have dropped out of courses  (a) FHO1 and  (b) FHO2 in each year since 2005.

Anne Milton: We do not have any information before 2009. The UK Foundation Programme Office has collected data on the proportion of foundation doctors who have dropped out of F1 or F2 for the last two years (2009 and 2010).
	In 2009 0.5% of F1 doctors did not complete their F1 year and 0.9% did not complete their F2 year. In 2010, 0.5% of F1 doctors did not complete their F1 year and 0.75% did not complete their F2 year.

Drinking Water

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many public drinking water fountains were installed in each year since 2005.

Anne Milton: The Department is not responsible for the installation of public drinking water fountains and does not hold data on the topic.

Drugs: Prisons

Therese Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of providing integrated drug treatment systems to each  (a) primary care trust and  (b) prison in (i) total and (ii) by prisoner in each of the last three financial years.

Paul Burstow: This information has been placed in the Library.

Health Services: Bassetlaw and Doncaster

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions he has received representations from non-executive directors of  (a) Bassetlaw primary care trust,  (b) Doncaster primary care trust and  (c) Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on (i) changes to the (A) treatment and (B) clinical outputs of his Department, (ii) the National Clinical Advisory Team, (iii) the strategic health authorities of each institution and (iv) other hospitals in the last 12 months.

Simon Burns: The Department is not aware of any representations from any of the non-executive directors of the organisations named on changes to the treatment and clinical outputs of this Department, the National Clinical Advisory Team, the strategic health authorities of each institution, or other hospitals in the last 12 months.

Health Services: Foreign Nationals

Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much expenditure the NHS recovered from overseas patients who received treatment in West Reading constituency under non-reciprocal agreements in each of the last 10 years.

Anne Milton: The information is not available in the format requested. Data are collected on income for overseas patients under non-reciprocal agreements in the primary care trust (PCT) and national health service trust audited summarisation schedules. These data are provided in the following table for the organisations that provide health care to the West Reading constituency. However these bodies also provide health care to other constituencies and the Department is unable to breakdown the data by constituency.
	
		
			  Income from overseas patients under non-reciprocal agreements, 2003-04 to 2009-10 
			  £000 
			  Organisation  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Newbury and Community PCT 0 0 0 
			 Reading PCT 0 0 0 
			 Wokingham PCT 0 0 0 
			 Berkshire West PCT0 0 0 0 
			 Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals NHS Trust 135 155 269 35
			 Total 135 155 269 35 0 0 0 
			  Notes: 1. The Department does not collect data from NHS foundation trusts. The Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals NHS Trust obtained foundation trust status on 1 June 2006, the data provided for 2006-07 are only for the part of the year the organisation operated as an NHS trust. 2. In 2006-07 Newbury and Community PCT, Reading PCT and Wokingham PCT merged to form the new Berkshire West PCT. 3. In common with many other public and private sector organisations the Department only holds accounting data at organisation level for seven years, and therefore data are only available for the financial years 2003-04 to 2009-10.  Source: Audited Summarisation Schedules 2003-04 to 2009-10

HIV Infection

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to reduce the level of undiagnosed HIV.

Anne Milton: On 1 December, the Health Protection Agency published an interim report "Time to test for HIV: Expanded healthcare and community HIV testing in England" on their review of these pilots. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library. Findings show that expanding HIV testing in hospital/general practitioner/community settings is feasible, and acceptable to patients and staff. These findings from these pilots will add to our evidence base on increasing HIV testing especially in high prevalence areas. A full report will be produced early next year.
	The Department has also funded the Medical Foundation for AIDS and Sexual Health to produce the training resource for non-specialist staff, "Tackling HIV Testing-increasing detection and diagnosis".

HIV Infection: Tuberculosis

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what proportion of tuberculosis patients are also infected with HIV;
	(2)  whether his Department is taking steps to encourage testing for HIV of patients diagnosed with tuberculosis.

Anne Milton: Data from 2008, the most recent available, indicate that 7.1% of patients with tuberculosis (TB) aged 15 years and over in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are co-infected with HIV.
	The Department supported development of the following guidance that recommends shared case management between TB and HIV professions, including testing, as follows:
	Clinical Diagnosis and Management of Tuberculosis, and Measures for its Prevention and Control (National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), 2006);
	Tuberculosis Prevention and Treatment: a Toolkit for Planning, Commissioning and Delivering High-Quality Services in England (DH, 2007);
	Recommended Standards for NHS HIV Services (2003);
	HIV in Primary Care (2004); and
	HIV for non-HIV Specialists (2008).
	These documents have already been placed in the Library.

Hospitals: Consultants

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms are in place to ensure that hospital consultants have adequate protected time for supporting professional activities; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The precise number and ratio of supporting professional activities in each consultant job plan are a matter for local determination, as part of the consultant job planning process. Job planning is based on a partnership approach. The job plan will be reviewed annually and the review will examine all aspects of the job plan including any possible changes to duties or responsibilities. The annual job plan review may result in a revised prospective job plan. An interim review of the job plan may also be conducted where duties, responsibilities, accountability arrangements or objectives have changed or need to change significantly within the year.
	The consultants'' contract ensures that senior doctors' time is used in the best interests of patients, by providing flexibility in job planning agreements between individual doctors and trusts. The contract fully recognises the value of wider work in the interests of the national health service.

Hospitals: Consultants

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the average protected time per week a hospital consultant has for Supporting Professional Activities in each NHS trust.

Simon Burns: The Department has not made any recent estimate of the number of Supporting Professional Activities in hospital consultants' job plans.
	The consultants' contract ensures that senior doctors' time is used in the best interests of patients, by providing flexibility in job planning agreements between individual doctors and trusts. Job plans are agreed in partnership between individual consultants and their employers, and should be consistent with organisational objectives and patient and service needs.
	The breakdown between direct clinical care activities, supporting professional activities and other duties in each consultant's job plan is a matter for local determination as part of the consultant job planning process.

Injuries: Offensive Weapons

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made by the Information Sharing Implementation Group on the sharing of non-confidential information on firearm and knife injuries between hospitals and police forces.

Anne Milton: As of March 2010 there were 198 hospitals with Type 1 Emergency Departments in England which could support violence reduction through non-confidential information sharing. We estimate that in March 2010 there were 108 hospitals collecting and sharing violent assault data in some format. Of these, we understand that 52 were collecting the minimum data and sharing it at least once per month. At this time 90 hospitals were not sharing data at all as of March 2010.
	The Implementation Group has analysed the challenge of delivering the coalition commitment and agreed a programme of work to support delivery. One of the first actions of this programme was to delivering additional funding of £743,000 to various projects throughout the national health service in November 2010. The group will also oversee the establishment of a regular progress update on the number of hospitals collecting and sharing information-to commence early in 2011. The group will also be investigating the impact of information sharing on violence in England.

Malnutrition

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate has been made of the cost to the NHS of malnutrition in the last five years.

Anne Milton: The Department has made no assessment of the cost of malnutrition to the national health service.
	The National Institute of Clinical Excellence published guidelines on malnutrition in 2006, that recommended all hospital patients, on admission and all out-patients at their first clinic appointment, should be screened (weighed, measured, and have Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated). Also, nutrition support should be considered in people who are malnourished.
	The guidelines also state that all acute hospital trusts should employ at least one specialist nutrition support nurse and establish a nutrition steering committee, while all health care professionals directly involved in patient care should be educated and trained on the importance of providing adequate nutrition.
	Information on the amount of malnutrition based hospital admissions over the last five years has been placed in the Library.

Medical Treatments Abroad: Finance

Mary Macleod: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many applications were made for funding for treatment abroad under Article 49 (now article 56 of the Lisbon Treaty) in the last 12 months; and how many such applications resulted in reimbursement.

Anne Milton: This information is not collected by the Department.
	Currently, the numbers of people travelling overseas for treatment are low. We know, for example, that less than 1,000 people travel each year under the arrangements enshrined in article 22 of Regulation (EEC) 1408/71-i.e. the S2 (formally E112 route).
	Decisions relating to the application of fundamental rights under article 56 are made locally by national health service commissioners. Accordingly, there is currently no central data collection as to how many patients are requesting treatment via this route, whether the request is approved or refused (and on what grounds), what treatment is being requested or how much it costs.
	However, primary legislation has been introduced in relation to EUROSTAT, the European Union (EU) organisation which collects and analyses data on a range of issues across the EU), this requires all member states to collect data on cross-border health care under article 56. Currently, we are awaiting the development of secondary legislation by the Commission before the United Kingdom (UK) can consider how to transpose these requirements.
	Additionally, a European directive on patients' rights in cross-border health care is currently the subject of negotiations in Europe. The intention behind the directive is to clarify and codify patients' rights in this area, within a single legal instrument. Depending on the progress of negotiations, a directive may be adopted in spring 2011. We intend looking at article 56 data collection requirements as part of the work to transpose the directive into UK law and NHS systems.

Mental Health Services: Young People

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people made the transition from child and adolescent mental health services to adult mental health services at the age of  (a) 16 and  (b) 18 in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10;
	(2)  how many people aged 18 years and in receipt of support from child and adolescent mental health services did not make the transition to adult mental health services in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10.

Paul Burstow: The transition from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to adult services is a critical point for young people with complex mental health needs. The Government are developing support to help young people's and adult services improve these transitions to ensure that both the processes and the models of care meet the needs of young people and their families.
	In response to the final report of the independent CAMHS review published in November 2008, which was critical of transitional arrangements, a number of pieces of work on the transition between children's and adult mental health care have been set-up. The Social Care Institute for Excellence, the National CAMHS Support Service and National Mental Health Development Unit are collaborating to produce a series of resources to support practitioners and commissioners to provide better care for adolescents and young adults.
	Additionally the new commissioning arrangements proposed by the Government provide an opportunity to improve the commissioning of the full range of emotional wellbeing and mental health services, including transition from CAMHS to adult mental health services.
	The Government announced in September that a new mental health strategy is being produced. The Government intends a wholesale shift in emphasis that puts mental health outcomes alongside physical health indicators in assessments of the quality of the national health service. The strategy will take a cross-Government and life course approach focussing on outcomes that are meaningful to patients and their families. The strategy is due to be published in the new year.
	This information is not collected centrally.

Mental Illness: Employment Tribunals Service

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the merits of extending the application cut-off date for mental health patients pursuing industrial tribunals.

Edward Davey: I have been asked to reply.
	We have not considered extending the time limits in this area. Employment tribunals already have discretion to accept an out of time application depending on the reason for the delay. In some jurisdictions, employment tribunals may consider claims made out of time where it was not reasonably practicable for a claim to have been submitted within the time limit. In others, late claims may be considered where it is just and equitable to do so. Responses to a public consultation in 2007 on time limits for making employment tribunal claims did not evidence any significant problems.

NHS: Recruitment

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what rules are in place in relation to NHS appointments in respect of which those responsible for filling non-executive posts are  (a) colleagues of and  (b) have personal links with those seeking appointment.

Simon Burns: All candidates for national health service public appointments are interviewed by a selection panel which includes an independent public appointments assessor, who provides independent scrutiny of the selection process.
	The Commissioner for Public Appointment's code of practice contains rules around how potential conflicts of interest between those involved in the selection process and candidates should be handled.

Organs: Donors

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will make an estimate of the effects on the number of organs available for donation annually of a scheme comparable to the organ donation system proposed by the Welsh Assembly Government;
	(2)  if he will undertake an assessment for benchmarking purposes of the effectiveness of the organ donation system proposed by the Welsh Assembly Government following its introduction.

Anne Milton: The Welsh Assembly Government has proposed in its legislative programme a Legislative Competence Order (LCO) to introduce an opt-out system of organ donation in Wales. Officials from the Wales Office and the Welsh Assembly Government are working closely with the Department as these proposals are considered.
	Government Ministers will comment as the process develops. This will include estimating the effects on the numbers of organs available for donation in Wales and for the United Kingdom as a whole. Should the LCO be agreed by Parliament and a presumed consent system subsequently introduced in Wales, Ministers will wish to monitor progress to assess its effectiveness.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of exemptions from prescription charges for each class of condition and illness in the most recent year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The Department does not hold information about which medical condition or illness a patient claimed exemption under in relation to a particular prescription item. Therefore, it is not possible to provide an estimate of the cost to the public purse of exemptions from prescription charges for each class of condition or illness.

Primary Care Trusts and NDPBs

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the use of savings to the public purse arising from the abolition of  (a) primary care trusts and  (b) non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department.

Simon Burns: The spending review announced that the costs of administration across the health system will be reduced by one third in real terms by 2014-15, delivering a recurrent annual saving of £1.9 billion. This includes savings from significantly reducing the number and cost of our non-departmental public bodies and from reforming and reducing the costs of administration in the national health service, including through the proposed abolition of primary care trusts and strategic health authorities.
	These savings, along with all other efficiency savings, will be re-invested in services for patients. It will be the responsibility of local commissioners to determine, within their overall budgets, how best these savings can be invested in order to meet the needs of, and improve outcomes for, their local populations.

Social Services: Finance

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms his Department plans to use to ensure that funding for social care allocated as part of the comprehensive spending review is spent for that purpose by local authorities.

Paul Burstow: The funding allocated for social care comes in three strands: the local government formula grant, grant funding from the Department to local authorities, and funding provided from within the national health service to support social care services that also benefit health.
	Money that goes to local authorities through formula grant forms the majority of social care allocations. This is unhypothecated, in order to give local authorities the freedom to respond to local needs and priorities.
	Alongside formula grant, this spending review announced an additional £2 billion by 2014-15 for social care. Of this £2 billion:
	Additional grant funding, rising to £1 billion by 2014-15, will be made available for social care. This funding will be allocated in addition to the Department's existing social care grants, which will rise in line with inflation. Total grant funding from the Department for social care will reach £2.4 billion by 2014-15. The Department has taken the decision to roll the additional £1 billion into formula grant supporting the localism agenda, so local authorities have the ability to spend money on local needs. This additional money will only go to local authorities responsible for social care.
	Funding, rising to £1 billion by 2014-15, will be provided from within the NHS to support social care services which benefit health. The allocation of funding from the NHS will be outlined in the NHS operating framework, due to be released on 15 December 2010. This money is split in two.
	Next year £150 million will be allocated to primary care trusts (PCTs) to commission re-ablement services and £648 million will be transferred via an agreement under section 256 of the 2006 NHS act to spend on social care services that also benefit health. PCTs will work with local authorities to jointly agree spend of the £648 million on services based on the local joint strategic needs assessment.

Surgery

Mary Macleod: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) elective and  (b) non-elective surgical episodes were carried out in each primary care trust area in each year since 2006.

Simon Burns: The NHS Information Centre collects Hospital Episode Statistics data which show the numbers of elective and non-elective finished admission episodes that had a main operative procedure or intervention.
	These data, for each primary care trust since 2006, have been placed in the Library.

Surgery

Mary Macleod: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average length of stay was for patients undergoing an elective surgical procedure in each primary care trust area in each year since 2006.

Simon Burns: The NHS Information Centre collects Hospital Episode Statistics data which show the numbers of elective and non-elective finished admission episodes that had a main operative procedure or intervention.
	The average length of stay for patients who have had a main operative procedure or intervention is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Average length of stay in days for patients undergoing a main elective procedure or intervention by primary care trust (PCT) of responsibility from 2006-07 to 2009-10: Activity in English national health service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			  PCT Name  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 South Gloucestershire PCT 3.9 3.7 3.8 3.3 
			 Havering PCT 3.9 2.5 3.6 3.8 
			 Kingston PCT 5.5 5.4 4.5 3.9 
			 Bromley PCT 3.9 4.0 3.5 3.4 
			 Greenwich Teaching PCT 3.6 3.5 3.7 3.7 
			 Barnet PCT 4.0 3.9 3.8 3.8 
			 North East Lincolnshire PCT 3.2 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Hillingdon PCT 3.7 3.6 3.5 3.4 
			 Enfield PCT 3.4 3.7 3.5 3.3 
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT 4.1 3.0 3.4 3.6 
			 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 3.4 3.4 4.6 5.2 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.8 
			 Newham PCT 3.5 3.6 3.8 4.6 
			 Haringey Teaching PCT 3.9 3.8 3.7 3.6 
			 Blackburn With Darwen PCT 2.8 3.0 3.0 2.7 
			 Herefordshire PCT 3.6 3.6 3.8 4.0 
			 Milton Keynes PCT 2.6 2.6 3.4 3.2 
			 Newcastle PCT 3.5 3.4 3.1 3.1 
			 North Tyneside PCT 3.7 3.5 3.5 3.7 
			 Hartlepool PCT 3.3 3.2 3.1 2.8 
			 North Tees PCT 3.3 3.2 3.1 3.1 
			 North Lincolnshire PCT 3.2 3.3 3.3 3.3 
			 Nottingham City PCT 3.3 3.0 3.1 2.8 
			 Bassetlaw PCT 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.3 
			 Plymouth Teaching PCT 3.4 3.2 3.5 3.5 
			 Salford PCT 3.6 3.5 4.0 3.1 
			 Stockport PCT 3.3 3.3 3.2 3.1 
			 Portsmouth City Teaching PCT 3.2 3.8 3.6 3.9 
			 Bath and North East Somerset PCT 4.4 4.1 4.4 3.8 
			 Luton PCT 2.9 3.0 2.9 3.2 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 2.8 3.2 3.1 3.1 
			 Rotherham PCT 3.4 3.2 3.4 3.2 
			 Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT 3.5 3.4 3.2 3.4 
			 Blackpool PCT 3.4 3.1 3.5 3.7 
			 Bolton PCT 3.3 3.5 3.4 3.6 
			 Ealing PCT 3.5 3.7 3.6 3.4 
			 Hounslow PCT 3.6 3.5 3.6 3.5 
			 Warrington PCT 3.6 3.6 3.4 3.3 
			 Knowsley PCT 3.6 3.6 3.5 3.5 
			 Oldham PCT 3.8 3.6 3.3 3.4 
			 Calderdale PCT 3.4 3.3 3.0 3.0 
			 Darlington PCT 3.5 3.7 3.5 3.4 
			 Barnsley PCT 3.2 3.4 3.7 3.5 
			 Bury PCT 3.6 3.4 3.5 3.4 
			 Swindon PCT 3.6 3.3 3.3 3.4 
			 Brent Teaching PCT 3.3 3.5 3.5 3.2 
			 Harrow PCT 3.5 3.6 3.5 3.3 
			 Camden PCT 3.9 4.1 3.9 3.8 
			 Islington PCT 3.6 3.9 3.9 3.6 
			 Croydon PCT 4.2 3.9 4.0 4.1 
			 Gateshead PCT 3.4 3.2 3.3 3.3 
			 South Tyneside PCT 3.4 3.3 3.4 3.3 
			 Sunderland Teaching PCT 3.3 2.9 2.9 2.9 
			 Middlesbrough PCT 4.0 3.4 3.3 3.1 
			 Southampton City PCT 3.5 3.3 3.7 4.3 
			 Medway PCT 4.1 3.5 3.5 3.5 
			 Kensington And Chelsea PCT 3.3 3.5 3.3 3.6 
			 Westminster PCT 3.8 3.6 3.5 3.8 
			 Lambeth PCT 4.0 3.8 3.9 4.1 
			 Southwark PCT 4.0 4.1 3.9 3.8 
			 Lewisham PCT 3.9 4.3 4.9 4.1 
			 Wandsworth PCT 4.6 4.4 4.3 4.7 
			 Tameside and Glossop PCT 3.8 3.8 3.3 3.4 
			 Brighton and Hove City PCT 2.6 2.6 2.9 3.4 
			 South Birmingham PCT 4.2 4.0 3.7 3.5 
			 Shropshire County PCT 3.8 4.1 4.4 4.1 
			 Walsall Teaching PCT 4.4 4.1 4.0 4.0 
			 Richmond And Twickenham PCT 5.4 5.1 5.4 4.9 
			 Sutton And Merton PCT 3.9 3.6 3.6 3.8 
			 North Somerset PCT 3.7 4.2 3.9 3.5 
			 Coventry Teaching PCT 3.5 3.4 3.4 3.5 
			 Telford And Wrekin PCT 3.5 3.6 3.6 3.8 
			 Wolverhampton City PCT 4.0 4.0 3.6 3.7 
			 Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT 3.9 3.7 3.5 3.4 
			 Leeds PCT 3.9 4.0 3.6 3.5 
			 Kirklees PCT 3.5 3.5 3.3 3.3 
			 Wakefield District PCT 3.4 3.2 3.1 3.0 
			 Sheffield PCT 3.7 3.7 3.4 3.4 
			 Doncaster PCT 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 
			 Derbyshire County PCT 3.9 3.8 3.6 3.6 
			 Derby City PCT 3.4 3.3 3.1 3.5 
			 Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT 3.7 3.3 3.4 3.3 
			 Lincolnshire Teaching PCT 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.4 
			 Redbridge PCT 4.3 3.3 3.6 3.7 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 4.1 3.7 3.8 4.0 
			 County Durham PCT 3.6 3.4 3.5 3.4 
			 Cumbria PCT 3.5 3.6 3.6 3.8 
			 North Lancashire PCT 3.6 3.2 3.6 4.1 
			 Central Lancashire PCT 3.6 3.4 3.3 3.6 
			 East Lancashire Teaching PCT 3.5 3.4 3.2 3.1 
			 Sefton PCT 3.7 3.5 3.5 3.4 
			 Wirral PCT 5.8 4.8 5.2 5.6 
			 Liverpool PCT 3.8 3.9 3.7 3.9 
			 Halton and St Helens PCT 3.7 3.6 3.8 3.6 
			 Western Cheshire PCT 3.7 3.6 3.4 3.3 
			 Central And Eastern Cheshire PCT 2.5 3.8 3.7 3.5 
			 Heywood, Middleton And Rochdale PCT 4.0 3.6 3.3 3.3 
			 Trafford PCT 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.4 
			 Manchester PCT 3.5 3.2 3.3 3.3 
			 North Yorkshire and York PCT 3.4 3.4 3.5 3.4 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire PCT 3.3 3.4 3.6 3.5 
			 Hull Teaching PCT 3.2 3.2 3.1 3.4 
			 Bradford And Airedale Teaching PCT 3.3 3.2 3.1 3.1 
			 South East Essex PCT 4.2 4.0 3.9 3.6 
			 Bedfordshire PCT 3.6 3.5 3.4 3.3 
			 East and North Hertfordshire PCT 3.7 3.8 3.1 3.5 
			 West Hertfordshire PCT 3.4 3.5 3.3 3.3 
			 Surrey PCT 4.1 3.8 3.5 3.4 
			 West Sussex PCT 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.4 
			 East Sussex Downs And Weald PCT 3.5 3.4 3.4 3.5 
			 Hastings And Rother PCT 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 
			 West Kent PCT 3.4 2.8 3.2 3.4 
			 Leicestershire County And Rutland PCT 4.0 3.6 3.7 3.7 
			 Leicester City PCT 3.8 3.5 3.6 3.4 
			 Northamptonshire Teaching PCT 3.8 3.9 3.5 3.5 
			 Dudley PCT 4.2 4.7 4.2 3.6 
			 Sandwell PCT 4.3 3.8 3.6 3.5 
			 Birmingham East And North PCT 4.3 3.9 3.8 3.8 
			 North Staffordshire PCT 2.3 6.1 6.4 6.6 
			 Stoke On Trent PCT 2.1 6.3 6.9 7.1 
			 South Staffordshire PCT 3.1 3.8 4.0 3.7 
			 Worcestershire PCT 3.8 3.8 3.7 3.6 
			 Warwickshire PCT 3.5 3.4 3.3 3.4 
			 Peterborough PCT 3.4 3.1 2.8 2.7 
			 Cambridgeshire PCT 3.4 3.4 3.3 3.2 
			 Norfolk PCT 3.6 3.4 3.0 2.9 
			 Great Yarmouth and Waveney PCT 3.9 3.8 3.3 3.2 
			 Suffolk PCT 3.6 3.4 3.4 3.2 
			 West Essex PCT 4.6 4.2 3.8 3.8 
			 North East Essex PCT 4.1 3.4 3.4 3.3 
			 Mid Essex PCT 3.4 3.1 3.2 3.0 
			 South West Essex PCT 4.4 4.3 4.8 4.7 
			 Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT 3.5 3.4 3.3 3.3 
			 Hampshire PCT 3.7 3.5 3.6 3.7 
			 Buckinghamshire PCT 3.5 3.3 3.6 3.9 
			 Oxfordshire PCT 3.3 3.3 3.4 3.5 
			 Berkshire West PCT 3.8 3.8 3.7 3.6 
			 Berkshire East PCT 3.3 3.0 3.6 3.5 
			 Gloucestershire PCT 3.9 4.1 4.0 3.7 
			 Bristol PCT 3.9 3.8 3.6 3.4 
			 Wiltshire PCT 4.9 4.6 4.1 3.6 
			 Somerset PCT 3.8 3.7 3.4 3.3 
			 Dorset PCT 3.6 3.6 3.3 3.3 
			 Bournemouth and Poole PCT 3.6 3.8 3.2 3.4 
			 Cornwall and Isles Of Scilly PCT 3.1 3.4 3.6 3.4 
			 Devon PCT 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.5 
			 Redcar and Cleveland PCT 3.7 3.7 3.4 3.3 
			 Isle of Wight NHS PCT 3.9 4.2 3.8 3.7 
			 Northumberland Care Trust 4.0 3.9 3.5 3.4 
			 Bexley Care Trust 4.0 3.6 3.3 3.5 
			 Torbay Care Trust 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.2 
			 Solihull Care Trust 4.0 3.7 3.8 3.7 
			 North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus n/a 3.0 3.1 3.5 
			 Not Applicable 5.3 5.5 5.5 5.6 
			 Unknown 4.3 4.2 4.2 6.4 
			 n/a = not available.  Note: PCT of responsibility is identified by establishing the postcode of the patient's general practitioner practice. "not applicable" is where the postcode cannot be derived; "unknown" is where the postcode has not been recorded.  Source:  Hospital episode statistics (HES), the NHS information centre for health and social care.

EDUCATION

Children in Care

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children subject to a care order, police protection order or emergency protection order left care in England in each year from 1989 to 2005.

Tim Loughton: The number of children who were subject to a care order, police protection order, or emergency protection order that left care between 1993 and 2005 is shown in the following table. Information for the year ending 31 March 1992 is affected by the introduction of the Children Act on 14 October 1991 when a new system of legal statuses was introduced and so it is not possible to extract a full year's worth of data. Information prior to 1992 is not available.
	
		
			  Children subject to a care order, police protection order or emergency protection order who ceased to be looked after during the year ending 31 March( 1,2,3,4) 
			  Years ending 31 March 1993 to 2005 
			   Number of children 
			 1993(5) 8,300 
			 1994(5) 7,700 
			 1995(5) 7,100 
			 1996(5) 6,500 
			 1997(5) 6,200 
			 1998(6) 6,700 
			 1999(6) 6,600 
			 2000(6) 6,800 
			 2001(6) 7,200 
			 2002(6) 7,900 
			 2003(6) 8,000 
			 2004(5) 8,900 
			 2005(5) 8,600 
			 (1) Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 100 if they exceed 1,000, and to the nearest 10, otherwise. (2) Only the last occasion on which a child ceased to be looked after in the year has been counted. (3) Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements. (4) Historical data may differ from older publications. This is mainly due to the implementation of amendments and corrections sent by some local authorities after the publication date of previous materials (5) Figures are taken from the SSDA903 return which covered all children looked after. (6) Figures are derived from the SSDA903 one third sample survey.  Source: SSDA903

Children in Care

Simon Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department spent on  (a) children in care and  (b) litigation in connection with such children in each year since 2007.

Tim Loughton: Most expenditure in support of looked after children (including children in care) is through local authorities. In 2007-08 local authority net expenditure recorded by them under the heading of children looked after amounted to £2,181 million, and in 2008-09 the figure was £2,453 million. Data for 2009-10 will be available in early 2011. These figures do not include other expenditure which contributes to supporting looked after children, such as expenditure on social worker salaries, on undertaking assessments of need or on delivering wider services such as school and leisure services. Over the last three financial years the Department itself has directly spent some £65 million in support of looked after children through the Care Matters programme budget; other departmental spending programmes have also contributed to improving outcomes for these children.
	The cost to the Department since September 2008 of litigation in connection with looked after children, including in relation to care leavers and adoption, is in the region of £60,000. The cost of local authorities of litigation in respect of looked after children is not collected centrally.

Departmental Communication

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Dundee East of 11 October 2010,  Official Report, columns 12-13W, if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance issued to staff of his Department on the performance of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families in respect of  (a) preparation of briefing,  (b) preparation of speeches,  (c) preparation of replies to official correspondence,  (d) organisation of appointments and  (e) conduct of meetings; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families has provided guidance to his officials on the preparation of  (a) preparation of (i) briefings, (ii) speeches and (iii) papers,  (b) conduct of his meetings and  (c) organisation of his diary; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 2 and 7 December 2010
	The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Departmental Communications

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether  (a) the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families and  (b) officials of his Department have had (i) meetings, (ii) discussions and (iii) correspondence with representatives of Classwatch since his appointment; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 7 December 2010
	I have had no meetings, discussions or correspondence with representatives of Classwatch since my appointment.
	I met the directors once in a personal capacity, soon after my appointment, as part of a leaving party. I also received financial information for the purpose of making my tax return.
	I have sent the CEO a Christmas card.
	I am not aware that any official in the Department has had meetings, discussions or correspondence with Classwatch during this period.

Departmental Communications

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether  (a) the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families and  (b) officials of his Department have had (i) meetings, (ii) discussions and (iii) correspondence with representatives of RM since his appointment; and if he will make a statement.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 7 December 2010
	I can confirm that neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State nor I have held any meetings or discussions, and have not exchanged any correspondence with Research Machines (RM). However, officials within this Department have met with RM on numerous occasions since May 2010 and have sent RM one letter during that time.
	Departmental officials leading on OPEN-The Marketplace for Schools:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/open
	have met with RM to take forward the integration of Research Machines with the OPEN suite of products. Meetings between RM and this Department have been regular weekly project meetings to look closely at timescales and the project milestones. 16 meetings have taken place since May 2010.
	One letter, dated 25 October 2010, was sent to RM to explain that continuance of the OPEN e-marketplace for schools is under review.

Departmental Contracts

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department plans to take to encourage and support small and medium-sized enterprises and third sector organisations to compete for departmental contracts in line with value-for-money policy, UK regulations and EU procurement directives.

Tim Loughton: The Department will fully comply with the package of support to open up Government procurement to help small and medium-sized enterprises and third sector organisations recently announced by the Cabinet Office.
	This includes streamlining the procurement process to remove unnecessary bureaucracy and waste, improving the transparency of public procurement opportunities and ensuring the timely payment by contractors to sub-contractors.
	In addition to those measures the Department already; advertises all suitable contracts on the supply2gov website (a website aimed at SMEs), flags up any contract advert placed in the Official Journal of the European Union if there may be sub-contracting opportunities for SMEs, uses simplified contractual documentation, encourages innovation through output based specifications, splitting requirements into smaller lots, encourages the use of consortia, publicises tender documents on the Business Link website and supports new businesses through flexibility on qualifying documentation, eg financial accounts.

Departmental Early Retirement

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many staff of  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have been offered enhanced early retirement packages in each of the last three years.

Tim Loughton: Under the Civil Service Compensation scheme the Department can offer early retirement packages in circumstances prescribed by the Civil Service Management Code. Information on the number of departmental staff who received approved early release package for the last three full financial years is set out in the following table:
	
		
			   Flexible and compulsory early retirement  Approved early retirement 
			 2007-08 55 3 
			 2008-09 37 1 
			 2009-10 94 7 
		
	
	The Department has no agencies.

Departmental Training

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many external training courses were attended by staff of his Department in the last 12 months; and what the cost to the public purse was of each such course.

Tim Loughton: Information about how many external training courses were attended by the Department's staff and associated costs is not held centrally-funding for the majority of learning and development opportunities is held and managed by individual business areas. Consequently this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Education Psychology

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects the freeze on the recruitment of trainee education psychologists to end.

Sarah Teather: holding answer 7 December 2010
	I am very pleased to report that following our spending review I have been able to secure the funding that will enable the 2011 training cohort to go ahead. You will appreciate that this is only a temporary solution because the current funding scheme is not sustainable. I am determined to take advantage of the opportunity presented by the Green Paper on SEN and disabilities to consider options for placing the training of educational psychologists on a more secure footing.

Family Law: Adoption

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of variation in the practice and implementation of adoption law across England and Wales.

Tim Loughton: The latest national adoption figures show a disappointing fall in the number of children being adopted and also a significant variation in local authorities' performance, both in terms of the number of looked after children who are adopted and in the timeliness of placements.
	The 'Adoption Research Initiative' has also highlighted variations in local practice, particularly in relation to permanence planning and decision making, family finding and matching, the provision of adoption support services, the use of resources and the allocation of budgets.
	I want all local authorities to perform to the level of the best. That is why I have set up a Ministerial Advisory Group on Adoption to provide expert advice on a range of practical proposals to remove barriers and reduce delays.
	On 18 November I wrote to directors of children's services and lead members to ask that they do everything possible to increase the number of children appropriately placed for adoption and to improve the speed with which decisions are made. I also intend to issue, in January, revised statutory guidance on adoption.

Institute for Fiscal Studies

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 30 November 2010,  Official Report, column 728W, on the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), which contracts his Department had with the IFS between 2002-03 and 2010-11; what the monetary value was of each such contract; and what tender process was undertaken in each case.

Tim Loughton: DfE contracts with the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) are research contracts and shown in the following table are details of contracts for the period 2002 to 2011. All of these contracts were awarded by competitive tender.
	
		
			  Reference  Project title  Contract period  Tender process  Monetary value of the contract (£) 
			 2002027 Evaluation of pilots of paid time off for training-design stage. 2 April 2002-25 October 2002 Competitive 39,710.00 
			 2002084 Parental background and child outcomes: how much does money matter and what else matters? 1 October 2002-31 May 2005 Competitive 253,834.75 
			 2003087 Design study for research on the impact of level 2 learning and qualifications 5 June 2003-7 July 2003 Competitive 16,550.00 
			 2007107 Drivers and barriers to educational success, evidence from the longitudinal survey of young people in England 6 March 2008-31 March 2009 Competitive 84,370.00 
			 2009161 Centre for analysis of youth transitions research centre 15 January 2010-31 March 2014 Competitive Up to 2,000,000.00 
			 2008058 LSYPE-YCS-IFS framework agreement for analysis of longitudinal data sets 30 November 2008-30 April 2011 Competitive (1)0.00 
			 (1 )To date no work has been awarded to IFS under this framework agreement.

Members: Correspondence

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Torbay of 1 September 2010, on his constituent Mrs Greenwood.

Tim Loughton: My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Schools responded to the letter from the hon. Member on 7 December.

Overseas Students: Guardianship

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration he has given to the merits of reviewing the safeguarding requirements for those providing education guardianship and host family services to overseas students.

Tim Loughton: There are no plans to review specifically the current arrangements for those providing education guardianship and host family services to overseas students. The Government are, however, currently reviewing the criminal records and vetting and barring regime, with the intention of scaling it back to common-sense levels.

School Linking Network Programme

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the School Linking Network project; and what plans he has to review the operation of that project.

Nick Gibb: In 2009 DfE commissioned NFER to conduct an evaluation of the Schools Linking Network (SLN) programme. The evaluation involved in-depth case study visits with participating schools to collect evidence on the take up and delivery of the programme, taking into account the views of school leaders, teachers, and local authorities. The evaluation also includes a robust assessment of the impact of the programme on pupils' attitudes and behaviour, using a quantitative survey of secondary pupils to compare changes over time in the attitudes and behaviour of SLN participants against a comparable group of non-participants. A full report on the evaluation findings will be published in early 2011. No decision has yet been taken on whether to continue funding SLN in future years.

Schools: Religion

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's Interfaith School Linking Network Project; when he next plans to renew the Project's performance; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: In 2009 DfE commissioned NFER to conduct an evaluation of the Schools Linking Network (SLN) programme. The evaluation involves in-depth case study visits with participating schools to collect evidence on the take up and delivery of the programme, taking into account the views of school leaders, teachers, and local authorities. The evaluation also includes a robust assessment of the impact of the programme on pupils' attitudes and behaviour. The evaluation covers school linking on the basis of racial, socio-economic, or faith differences, and does not specifically focus on the interfaith aspect of the School Linking Network's work. The Department currently has no plans to conduct a separate evaluation of Interfaith School Linking. A full report on the current evaluation findings will be published in early 2011.

Teachers: Languages

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for the future of the British Council Language Teaching Assistant scheme.

Nick Gibb: The Language Assistants programme, which is managed for the Department by the British Council, will continue. The programme supports departmental and Government priorities by exposing pupils in our schools to mother-tongue speakers of other languages through the intake of foreign language assistants; and provides an opportunity for undergraduates from our universities to immerse themselves in a foreign language while working as an English language assistant in a school abroad.